KUALA LUMPUR – The national men’s junior hockey squad will leave for Perth tomorrow to play six friendly matches as part of their preparations for the Cambodia SEA Games and 2023 Junior Hockey Asia Cup in Salalah, Oman.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) said the Young Tigers would play the friendlies against senior club teams in Australia from April 6 to 14.
“The 21-member junior squad comprise two goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfield players and six strikers,” MHC said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, national junior team head coach Muhamad Amin Rahim said the friendly matches would serve as a good test for the national juniors.
“The junior team’s speed of thinking and physical speed will be put to the test in the friendlies. The warm-up matches are excellent for preparing them for the two important championships (SEA Games and Junior Asia Cup),” he said.
“I would also like to see how the juniors handle high-pressure situations as Australia are one of the world’s best teams,” he added.
Muhamad Amin said the Perth-bound team comprised players who had given a good account of themselves in the recent Malaysian TNB Hockey League and also some new faces.
The Young Tigers will play in the SEA Games from May 1 to 8 and the Junior Hockey Asia Cup from May 23 to June 1. – Bernama
