KUALA LUMPUR — National junior hockey head coach Nor Saiful Zaini has warned his young charges to brace for a different “ball game” as they prepare to face Australia and China in a series of international friendlies ahead of the Junior World Cup (JWC).
Speaking to Scoop, Nor Saiful said the matches are not only about gaining exposure but also about testing whether the squad can adapt to the physical and tactical demands of modern hockey.
“It’s going to be a completely different ball game when we face teams like Australia and China. They’re tough, physical, fast-paced sides, and this is where we’ll see if our boys can rise to the challenge and meet the demands of modern hockey,” said the former international.
He stressed that the tours must be treated as learning opportunities, warning his players against simply going through the motions.
“I don’t want them to just play and return with nothing. If they sink and don’t learn anything, that’s a problem. These games are not just a test for the players — they’re a test for me too, to see whether my boys are capable of reading and adapting to the modern game,” he said.
With the JWC in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, India, fast approaching — scheduled from November 28 to December 10 — Nor Saiful admitted that time is not on their side.
He estimates that the squad needs at least 60 high-quality matches to be tournament-ready. But with only 13 games played so far and just four months remaining, time is running short.
To close the gap, the Young Tigers will tour Perth from August 3 to 15, where they will play six matches — three each against the Western Australia junior and senior sides. The team will then head to China for another six-match series against Liaoning.
These back-to-back tours will serve as preparation for the Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC) from October 11 to 18, which will feature defending champions Britain alongside Australia, India, New Zealand, Ireland, and host nation Malaysia.
Twenty-two out of the 25-man squad will travel to Perth, although Nor Saiful is monitoring the fitness of two key players — midfielder Adam Ashraf Johari and defender Aqil Danial Mat Ruslee.
Adam, who featured in the 2023 JWC in Bukit Jalil, is recovering from a wrist injury, while Aqil, a key player during the Junior Asia Cup in Oman, is sidelined with a knee problem.
“The matches in Perth will provide valuable exposure, and I hope the players rise to the occasion. These are the kind of games that show who’s ready for the next step and who still has work to do,” Nor Saiful said.
Malaysia have been drawn into a challenging Group E for the JWC, alongside European powerhouses the Netherlands and England, as well as Austria.
In the previous edition, Malaysia finished 12th out of 16 teams.
“This is our opportunity to raise our standards and learn quickly. We must close the gap with the top teams if we want to compete at the highest level,” he added. — August 2, 2025