STRONG BELIEF: Coach includes four former internationals in squad for Argentina assignment
FOUR former internationals -- Chua Boon Huat (pic), Ismail Abu, Jivan Mohan and Muhd Amerullah Abdul Aziz -- have been included in the 18-member national hockey squad for the Champions Challenge 1 on Nov 24-Dec 2 in Argentina.
National coach Paul Revington believes the quartet will make a difference to his team, drawn in Group A with South Korea, Poland and Canada.
"As I have stated from the first day, my aim is to make Malaysia a winning side. I had the best players for three weeks in training and those selected adapted well to my system," said Revington in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
"I hope everyone will play to their strengths in Argentina and hopefully, they can make progress after each match."
Boon Huat and Ismail were regulars before the duo were axed by former coach Tai Beng Hai while Jivan opted out last year to complete a 10-month training course at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol).
As for Amerullah, the 26-year-old played in one international tournament under Beng Hai.
"Being an ex-international does not mean one can never return for national duty.
"They have proven themselves in competitions and in training and I have no regrets including them as I believe they can play a major role.
"In Argentina, we have to aim towards winning matches, show consistency and above all have the confidence that we have a team capable of taking on the best," Revington added.
Although Revington chose to be diplomatic in regard to the quartet's inclusion, he may have had no choice as some of his trainees are needed for the Sultan of Johor Cup (a junior event), which starts on Sunday.
He called up 12 players from the Sultan of Johor Cup squad for selection but only three -- the Saari brothers, Faizal, and Fitri, and Faiz Helmi Jali -- were named for the Argentina assignment. Faizal and Fitri are regular internationals while Faiz will be making his senior debut in Argentina.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) made it clear to Revington, before he penned his contract in August, that it wants to see Malaysia qualify for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Although Revington has been given a tough task, critics should not judge him too early if Malaysia fail in the Champions Challenge I as it is his first international assignment as coach.
Revington was strict in training as those who did not report on time were sent home.
He named two captains -- Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Abdul Jalil and Shahrun Nabil for the tournament.
The squad: S. Kumar, Roslan Jamaluddin, Azlan Misron, Baljit Singh, Chua Boon Huat, Faiz Helmi Jali, Faizal Saari, Ismail Abu, Jivan Mohan,, Mohd Shukri Mutalib, Mohd Fitri Saari, Mohd Shahrun Nabil Abdullah (capt), Mohd Amin Rahim, Mohd Amerullah Abdul Aziz, Marhan Mohd Jalil, Razie Rahim (vice-capt), Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Abdul Jalil (capt).
