KUALA LUMPUR – With less than six weeks remaining before the 2026 Hockey World Cup, Malaysia’s preparations are focused on one clear objective – fully adapting to head coach Brendon Carolan’s tactical philosophy before taking on the world’s best in Belgium.
National midfielder Fitri Saari said developing a deeper understanding of Carolan’s system and building stronger on-field chemistry have become the Speedy Tigers’ main priorities during their training camp in Durban, South Africa.
Speaking to Scoop, the experienced midfielder said the squad must quickly gel and fully embrace the Irish coach’s style of play if they are to compete with the elite teams at the tournament, which begins on Aug 14.
“We need to improve our understanding with one another and adapt as quickly as possible to the new tactical approach introduced by the coach because every player needs to be on the same page.
“The coaching staff have clear expectations of how they want us to play, so it is our responsibility as players to absorb those ideas and execute them effectively on the pitch.
“Tactical awareness is extremely important, and at the same time we also need to make better decisions during matches. Every decision, whether in attack or defence, can influence the outcome of a game, especially when playing against the world’s top teams.
“Training in South Africa has given us valuable time to work on these aspects, and we are determined to make the most of every session so that we are fully prepared when the World Cup begins.”
Malaysia faced a stern challenge after being drawn in Pool B alongside hosts and former world champions Belgium, another former champion Germany, and 2025-26 FIH Nations Cup winners France.
Despite the formidable opposition, Fitri believes the group presents an opportunity rather than a burden, with each match offering the Speedy Tigers a valuable benchmark against the world’s leading hockey nations.
Following the World Cup, Carolan’s men will immediately shift their focus to the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where Malaysia will be targeting the gold medal from Sept 19 to Oct 4. – July 3, 2026