KUALA LUMPUR — National indoor hockey head coach Rodzhanizam Mat Radzi has admitted that his team will face difficulties adapting to the cold weather in Porec, Croatia, when they take on three-time world champions Germany in their opening Group B match at the Indoor Hockey World Cup, which begins tomorrow.
Rodzhanizam explained that his players, making their debut in the prestigious tournament after finishing as runners-up at last year’s Asia Cup, lack experience in cold weather conditions, unlike their opponents.
For reference, the average temperature in Porec is currently between three and seven degrees Celsius.
“Playing in conditions like these is definitely something new for us, as we have never experienced cold weather like this before. Even when we played in the Asia Cup in Kazakhstan, the temperature was around 20 degrees Celsius, which was more suited to us.
“Although the weather will be a tough challenge, we need to adapt to our surroundings and push ourselves as much as possible in this tournament. The players are in good shape and have been training well since we arrived about five days ago.
“Now, we need to overcome the weather and focus on our goal of finishing in the top eight after the group matches to qualify for the quarter-finals,” said Rodzhanizam.
According to checks by Scoop on the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service website, there is a strong wind warning, with speeds of up to 65 km per hour, which may affect Croatian districts from Porec to Poserdarje.
Meanwhile, Rodzhanizam recognised that his team faces a tough clash against Germany tomorrow and hopes for a strong defensive performance against their world number five opponents.
“It’s going to be a tough match, and I’ve been monitoring their performance since they participated in the European Championships last year, where they finished as runners-up. Their performance has been improving, and they have many young players coming through the ranks.
“We need to put together a solid defensive game against them, staying vigilant from start to finish. Most importantly, we need to give our opponents the respect they deserve, but we should not be afraid of them,” Rodzhanizam added.
Malaysia’s other group matches are against Pan American champions Argentina on February 4 and Asian champions Iran on February 6.
To prepare for the Indoor World Cup, Malaysia, led by penalty corner specialist Najmi Farizal Jazlan, played five Test matches in Austria last month.
Group A comprises defending champions and European champions Austria, Poland, South Africa, and hosts Croatia. Group C includes Australia, Belgium, Namibia, and Trinidad and Tobago. — February 2, 2025