SHA to name squad Feb 25

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Hockey Association (SHA) has set Feb 25 to name its final squad for the National Under-16 hockey tournament to be held in Sandakan from March 13 to 21.

Team manager Levie @ Laila Md Shahbadur said they would announce the final list after conducting a fitness test which has been set for Thursday.

“We will be shortlisting 18 players for the final squad,” she said, when met at the team’s training at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex hockey pitch in Likas yesterday.

A total of 27 players were called to attend centralised training that began on Feb 18, but currently there are 22 players left, while another three hopefuls will be joining the team in the next day or two, including one Bandar Penawar Sports School-based player, Azhad Akmal Fahmi.

“These players were selected from the recent Sabah Hockey Association (SHA) Deputy President Datuk Hj Mohd Yusop Haji Mansur’s Cup Under-16 tournament, which was participated by all zones, except Tawau.

“The team will be based and training here before going to Sandakan one week before the tournament starts,” said Levie, adding while in Sandakan, they would be based at the sports complex’s hostel.

She also called on generous individuals or companies to come forward and give the team a helping hand in their preparations ahead of the national event, which Sabah is hosting for the first time ever.

“We have a limited budget, and it would be most appreciated if anyone out there could give us a helping hand.”

Meanwhile, head coach Fuad Taie said due to time constraints there is nothing much he could do apart from focusing on the basics and fitness.

“We have less than a month to prepare and obviously you cannot do much on the team. These are young players, and the best thing that we need to focus on is the basics. I’m also concentrating on their fitness, and will slowly go into tactics.

Fuad, who is assisted by Jumat Sahin, said that they are holding two training sessions daily with the morning session from 6.30am to 10am, while in the afternoon from 3pm to 6pm.

A total of 16 teams, including Singapore and Brunei are expected to take part in the national championship.

The 22 players that are currently training with the team, excluding the three, who have yet to report for camp, are four goalkeepers Clarence Yasin, Sufirman Saudi, Syahrul Azli, Joss Bellaramine, (defenders) Eslebester Esar, Jetlieqoon Dangku, Mohd Juraidi Lijas, Mohd Farid Rasdi, Shadat Abdul Laja, Ryener Yasir, (midfielders), Mohd Izzam Azrai, Dion Duni, Maxhans Kristi, Mawardi Amirin, Mohd Afik Japlie, Jaswind Sammy, (strikers) Ricky Sahian, Clint Aswann Daulin, Zahkri Esar, Jefferysius Mahin, Jeffrey Shim, Awgku Iskandar Awgku Sahri.