Star : Prove your worth to win Games ticket, coach tells duo
The fortunes of Nur Zafirah Aziz and Nurul Safiqah Mat Isa could change from top league players to national hockey stars this week.
Nur Zafirah and Nurul Safiqah may get the lucky break to represent Malaysia at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, from April 4-15.
National coach K. Dharmaraj called up forward Zafirah and midfielder Safiqah for national training last week based on their performances in helping PKS Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten)-KPT win the Women’s League on March 2.
And his challenge for them is simple – prove themselves in three friendly matches against Japan today, Wednesday and Thursday at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil to earn their tickets to Gold Coast.
Dharmaraj said he wanted to create an environment where talents from domestic tournaments can play at the national level and the current national players won’t take their places for granted.
“I called up Zafirah and Safiqah based on their performances in the women’s league.
“They deserve a chance to prove themselves in the friendly matches before I name the final squad for the Commonwealth Games,” said Dharmaraj.
Both Zafirah and Safiqah have played for the national team before.
Safiqah featured for Malaysia at the World League Round Two in Kuala Lumpur in January 2017 while Zafirah played in the World League Semi-finals in Brussels last June and the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last August.
“No player should take her place for granted in the national team. I want all players to prove themselves worthy to play for the country,” he said.
Dharmaraj will trim his squad from 26 to a final 18 for the Games after the friendly matches.
Nur Zafirah and Nurul Safiqah may get the lucky break to represent Malaysia at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, from April 4-15.
National coach K. Dharmaraj called up forward Zafirah and midfielder Safiqah for national training last week based on their performances in helping PKS Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten)-KPT win the Women’s League on March 2.
And his challenge for them is simple – prove themselves in three friendly matches against Japan today, Wednesday and Thursday at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil to earn their tickets to Gold Coast.
Dharmaraj said he wanted to create an environment where talents from domestic tournaments can play at the national level and the current national players won’t take their places for granted.
“I called up Zafirah and Safiqah based on their performances in the women’s league.
“They deserve a chance to prove themselves in the friendly matches before I name the final squad for the Commonwealth Games,” said Dharmaraj.
Both Zafirah and Safiqah have played for the national team before.
Safiqah featured for Malaysia at the World League Round Two in Kuala Lumpur in January 2017 while Zafirah played in the World League Semi-finals in Brussels last June and the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last August.
“No player should take her place for granted in the national team. I want all players to prove themselves worthy to play for the country,” he said.
Dharmaraj will trim his squad from 26 to a final 18 for the Games after the friendly matches.
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