KUCHING: Sarawak men’s hockey team manager Ali Rahman Hassan hopes that the players will continue to strive for success, even after the end of the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI).
“Considering that during training or previous tournaments, we have seen positive development from the players in terms of skills and enthusiasm.
“However, for continuous improvement, there is a need for them to compete outside of Sarawak.
“Because if they only compete within the state, it is not enough. So I hope the related parties such as Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), Sarawak Hockey Association would take this into consideration for the development of hockey in Sarawak,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after attending the 11th-12th position match between Sarawak and Selangor at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Hockey Stadium here on Thursday (Aug 22).
He said the tournament is not only crucial for exposure but also important for the players to be able to handle the pressure when they are competing.
“These players are between 17 and 21 years old, so they are still quite young.
“Despite their skills, we cannot blame them for losing due to the immense pressure of competing in a prestigious tournament like Sukma.
“And that is why after Sukma, we need to send the team to various tournaments outside of the state for continuous improvement,” he added.
He acknowledged that hockey in the modern age is not the same compare to previous years.
“This is because the style of the modern hockey is very different, in terms of skills, speed and others. So we need to continue moving forward,” he added.
For the next Sukma, scheduled to be held in 2027 in Selangor, he hopes that head coach Dangerouslee Mathew remains with the team.
“We have seen several improvements in the team thanks to his guidance and coaching, so I hope he continues to stay with us.”
