KUALA LUMPUR – National hockey head coach Sarjit Singh is set to discuss with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) for approval in sending his players to play in leagues abroad.
Previously, Sarjit told Scoop that Monchengladbach, competing in the Feldhockey Bundesliga, were interested in bringing a Malaysian forward on board to strengthen their team.
Sarjit also mentioned that 10 to 12 of his players were on the radar of clubs participating in the Hockey India League.
However, Sarjit recently revealed that Monchengladbach were also interested in getting two more Malaysian players on board.
Speaking to Scoop from Amsterdam, Sarjit said it would be tough for his players to play abroad as it clashed with the national team’s preparation for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy (ACT).
“It’s not going to be easy as ACT begins around September this year and we need to begin our preparations for the tournament.
“The Feldhockey Bundesliga season runs from August to October, and the players need to report to the club.
“It’s going to be a bit challenging to release the players as they also need to get clearance from the state associations and clubs that they compete in the Malaysia Hockey League.
“I hope the process of sending the players can be smooth and does not clash with our national team preparations. I will discuss with MHC about this as it’s a great opportunity for our players to learn and get better by playing abroad,” said Sarjit when contacted.
For the record, the Saari brothers – Faizal and Fitri – recently made waves in the Bangladesh Hockey League with Mohammedan SC in March this year.
The Speedy Tigers, with an average age of 25 years, recently played Belgium B, Germany, the Netherlands, Monchengladbach and India on their European tour from June 30 to July 14.
The team’s European Tour was funded by the National Sports Council.
The Speedy Tigers currently rank number 12 in the world with 1,910.30 points. – July 16, 2024