Tajol, Azlan lead KL

16/01/2003

DEFENDING champions Kuala Lumpur, going by the name list, are sure bets to
lift the Malaysian Hockey Federation-National Sports Council National
Under-21 Tournament starting on Monday at the National Hockey Stadium in
Kuala Lumpur.
Tajol Rosli and Azlan Misron, who both payed in the Kuala Lumpur World
Cup last year, lead the charge and coach Nor Saiful Zaini did not mince
his words when he said that anything less than the title will be a
disaster.
"Our target is to lift the Under-21 title because the KL team has the
best juniors in the country. If we do not lift the title, then, someting
is wrong with the future of hockey in the country," said Nor Saiful.
Strong words, but the former national skipper spoke the truth as the
impressive list included Tasmania Junior World Cup goalkeeper Firdaus
Razali, and seven players who took part in the recent Four-Nation
International in KL.
The seven are Kelvinder Singh, Redza Maadun, Azlan, Fairuz Hamsani,
Fakhrulrazi Baharuddin, Engku Malek Engku Mohamed and Izwan Hassan.
The only `problem' for KL is that they will not get a chance to train as
a team, until the opening match on Monday with Johor.
"Most of my players just played in the Four-Nation and need a break,
while some are training with the national team under Paul Lissek. So we
have yet to play as a team, but that should not be a problem as all of
them have attended national training and the pattern of play is the same.
"We might start shakily against Johor, but we will not drop points,"
said Nor Saiful.
KL have named 17 players and will drop one before the Team Managers
Meeting on the eve of the tournament.
Kuala Lumpur: Firdaus Razali (gk), Hanafi Hassan (gk), Kelvinder Singh,
Tajol Rosli, Redza Maadun, Azlan Misron, Fairuz Hamsani, Kamaruddin
Rahman, Fakhrulrazi Baharuddin, P. Prabahkaran, K. Regan, Jivan Mohan,
Engku Malek Engku Mohamed, M. Manikumaran, Wan Mohamed Asyrizal Wan
Mustapha, Hosni Abdul Rahman, Izwan Hassan.
Team Manager: ASP Avtar Singh Pandher; Coach: Nor Saiful Zaini; Asst
Coach: Tai Beng Hai.
(END)