KUALA LUMPUR – Canada head coach Patrick Tshutshani has warned his team not to underestimate Malaysia or assume they will struggle with the cold weather in Poland when they meet in hockey’s Nations Cup later tonight.
The tournament, held in Gniezno from May 31 to June 9, features nine teams in two pools: Austria, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, France, Malaysia, Pakistan and Poland.
Known as the Red Caribou by their fans, Canada have clashed with Malaysia 22 times since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, with the Speedy Tigers winning 68.18% (15) of those matches.
Both sides last met at the recently concluded Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where Malaysia won 6-2 in their second pool match and went on to finish fourth in the invitational tournament.
The seven-day tournament among six nations in Ipoh saw Canada having a tournament to forget, finishing bottom of the pool with zero points.
Speaking to Scoop from Gniezno, Tshutshani said his charges were aware of the qualities of the Malaysian team under the guidance of head coach Sarjit Singh and were ready to take them on with their high-tempo gameplay.
“The Malaysians are a really strong side, and we witnessed that very well in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. The weather here in Poland is around 20-24°C, and I don’t think it will cause them to adapt to the cold weather.
“We can’t depend on them crumbling due to the cold weather, and we can’t take the weather conditions to our advantage either. We need to prove our worth through our performances, and that’s what matters most to me.
“They may be ranked higher than us, but I can ensure that my boys will give them a good fight throughout the 60-minute match with our high-tempo gameplay that we have been practising prior to the tournament.
“I want to see all my players fight and challenge in all the games they compete in, as I want them to continue evolving for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”
Canada, ranked 20th in the world, are grouped with France, Malaysia and Pakistan in Pool B in the Nations Cup.
The Caribou fell to Paris Olympics-bound France 4-0 in their opening fixture on May 31 and will be taking on world number 15-ranked Pakistan in their second pool match tomorrow.
For the record, Canada have made eight appearances in the Olympics, six in the senior Men’s World Cup, and 15 in the Pan American Games, where they have clinched the title four times (1983, 1987, 1999 and 2007). – June 5, 2024