KUALA LUMPUR – “Don’t lose to teams ranked below us.” This is the primary target set by newly appointed national junior hockey head coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasruddin, as he begins preparations for the upcoming Junior World Cup in Chennai, India, from November 28 to December 10.
Saiful, officially appointed today on a three-year contract, takes on the significant task of building a strong squad with just six months remaining before the global tournament.
His immediate focus is to ensure Malaysia – currently ranked 11th in the world and fourth in Asia – does not suffer defeats against lower-ranked teams during the competition.
“In the Junior Asia Cup, we finished fourth. At the Junior World Cup, there will be 24 teams. My first aim is to avoid losing to teams ranked below us,” said Nor Saiful during a press conference today
“What we want is for the players to perform well at the World Cup, regardless of their position on the pitch. Of course, we don’t want to lose to teams below us – that’s why proper preparation is crucial.
“The target is to beat all teams ranked lower than us and to put in good performances against higher-ranked sides to win matches. That way, when they return, they can become better players and have the opportunity to be absorbed into the senior national team,” he added.
Nor Saiful is no stranger to the role. He previously led the junior national team from 2016 to 2020 before stepping down to focus on grassroots development and coaching Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). – May 6, 2025