MALAYSIA will be without two of their key strikers when they take on the world's best junior teams in the inaugural Sultan of Johor Cup starting tomorrow at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.Faizal Saari, the top scorer in the Malaysia Hockey League with 19 goals, and Firhan Ashaari (pic), will train with the senior squad for the Champions Challenge I while their teammates battle in Johor.
There was a keen tussle for the players with Project 2013 coach K. Dharmaraj of the opinion that they should play in Johor, while senior coach Tai Beng Hai did not want his budding strikers to risk injury and fatigue.
In the end, it was decided that the duo should skip Johor and concentrate on training for South Africa. Their names were missing from the final list released by Dharmaraj yesterday.
The tournament will see Malaysia hard-pressed to achieve their second place target as they have to play India, Pakistan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
However, Malaysia are no longer a weak side as they have been on a string of tours preparing for next year's Junior Asia Cup in Malacca, which is also a Junior World Cup Qualifier.
Dharmaraj's team have been to Australia, New Zealand, England, Germany and Spain. Some of his players played in the Four Nation Invitational in Russia, while those who are under 18, played and won the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Under-18 Tournament in Singapore.
Also, Faiz Helmi and Amir Farid played in the Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.
"We have done all the necessary groundwork systematically and even though the target is a steep final appearance, my players are game for the challenge," said Dharmaraj.
On Wednesday, Malaysia beat New Zealand 3-1 in a friendly.
THE SQUAD: Hazrul Faiz (GK), Hafizuddin Othman (GK), Noor Faeez Ibrahim (capt), Norhizzat Sumantri, Faiz Helmi, Shazrul Imran, Shazril Irwan, Fitri Saari, Syamim Yusof, Aamir Farid, Fariq Saadon, Ramadhan Rosli, Izad Hakimi, Rashid Baharom, Hafiq Zainol, Zulhairi Hashim, Mohamed Azri, Kavin Khartik; Manager: Mirnawan Nawawi; Coach: K. Dharmaraj; Assistant Coaches: K. Gobinathan, Nor Azlan Bakar.
