When I blogged about the national team list yesterday, I was somewhat surprised that many opted to follow the list with regards to the number of players recalled into the national team.
I had hesitated to reveal much as really I felt that the list prepared and released by the Malaysian hockey Confederation should have really been better prepared as missing from it was key ingredients like the age of players, if they were making their debut, if they were in the team that failed at Dublin for the Olympic Qualifiers, just how many were also in the Project 2013 squad and more importantly the plan of the national team - from friendly matches, departure to Argentina as well as naming of the final 18 should have been listed out.
This iI am updating what I wrote yesterday and below is my updated version, that I hope readers will appreciate since most just dwell on past but not on facts.
A delayed press conference, and some 19 minutes after the scheduled time, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation newly appointed coach Paul Revington reveals his list of 30 trainees and 8 reserves that are looked upon to reinvent Malaysian hockey, regain lost pride, improve rankings, make the World Cup - in whatever order one choses to look at it.
Here goes and enjoy the stats:
Six players, namely Chua Boon Huat, Ismail Abu, Mohd Sallehin Ghani, Jiwa Mohan, Jivan Mohan and Muhammad Amerullah Abdul Aziz have been recalled after being out of favour since 2010.
One player, namely Mohd Amin Rahim has withdrawn his retirement plans, even though he made it crystal clear at the Sultan azlan Shah Cup so much so he was named as skipper for the final match against South Korea.
From the Dublin squad, only Mohd Madzli Ikmar is not in the squad, having decided and stuck to his decision to quit the national team. Perhaps the only one man enough to accept the blame and take responsibility.
Two players from the Dublin Olympic Qualifiers - Azreen Rizal Nasir and Mohd Izzat Mohd Rahim , ironically both from Sapura are now placed in the reserves list. For the benefit of the readers Azreen has a meniscus injury and could be out for the next two months so rightfully should be allowed to recover before being named.
Seven players, Faiz Helmi Jali, Mohd Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin, Mohd Fitri Saari, Mohd Syamim Yusof Mohd Azri Hassan, Muhammad Firhan Ashaari and Shazril Irwan Nazli are also in the Project 2013 squad that are eligible to play in the Junior World Cup.
12 players, Amir Farid Ahmad Fuzi, Faiz Helmi Jali, Faizal saari, Mohd Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin, Mohd Fitri Saari, MOhd Syamim Mohd Yusof, Mohd Ramadhan Rosli, Muhd Noor Faeez Ibrahim, Norhizzat Sumantri, Muhammad azri Hassan, Muhammad Firhan Ashaari and Shazril Irwan Nazli are players that are eligible to play in the forthcoming Sultan of Johor Cup.
Players making their debut in national training squad are Mohd Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin, Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof and Shazril Irwan Nazli while those who were in the training squad in the past and are making a return, minus the six players named above are - Shahrin Mohammad, Khairulnizam Ibrahim, Muhd Azri Hassan, B. Namasivatam.
Thus it will be appropriate for the national coaches to provide such information to members of the media to enable them report clearly what is happening as there have been players going in and out, akin to boarding and getting off a stage bus.
