KUALA LUMPUR – National hockey head coach Sarjit Singh is set to discuss with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) the possibility of arranging more friendlies against European teams.
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.
Speaking to Scoop, Sarjit said that currently, his side is on par with other Asian teams, and playing regularly against European teams is one way for his players to improve in the future.
Sarjit, who was brought in by MHC on a two-year contract in March of this year, is tasked with forming a formidable team for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and ensuring the team qualifies for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“We need to play regularly against these European teams to fill in the void that we currently have. Our recent European tour was an eye-opener for me on what aspects we need to improve our gameplay.
“I have noticed that when we play against Asian teams, we do not struggle as much, but when we play against European teams, we struggle with stamina, speed, and fitness. So, I believe we should play more against these teams to learn from them and, at the very least, try to reach their level.
“We have a lot of potential, and the boys are really young, and with more game exposure, for sure we will progress to become better. I have been advocating for more friendly matches since the day I came on board, and we need at least 22 matches to prepare until 2026.
“Hence, I’m hoping that we get to play more European teams in the 22 matches that we require until 2026, and this is something that I’m going to discuss with MHC once I’m back in Kuala Lumpur,” said Sarjit when contacted.
The Speedy Tigers currently rank number 12 in the world with 1,910.30 points. – July 17, 2024