Hockey: Revington calls up five new faces to national squad

National head coach for hockey Paul Revington has called up five new faces in a list of 26 players to undergo training ahead of the Asian Cup and 2014 World Cup in the Hague, Holland. Revington not only included five new faces but sprang a pleasant surprise by including two young players, namely Ahmad Kazamirul Nasruddin and Meor Muhammad Azuan Hassan. Apart from the duo, Meor Muhamad Azuan Hassan from UniKL, Azreen Rizal Nasir from Sapura and Muhammad Firhan Ashaari from TNB were called up for national training but omitted former national junior skipper Muhammad Noor Faeez Ibrahim. "I look for different elements when selecting the squad and I see them as ideal candidates," he told reporters. "He (Muhammad Noor) was given an opportunity to perform since October last year and after eight months I think he has still a lot to learn. He lacks on certain aspects but we will be keeping a close watch on him," said Revington. To book a ticket to the World Cup, the national squad must first cross two major hurdles - the World League semifinals to be held in Johor from June 29 to July 3, and the Asian Cup in Ipoh, Perak from Aug 23 to 31. "Securing a place in the World Cup from the World League is the primary target for us and if all goes according to plan we will go on and win the Asian Cup as well to keep the momentum going," he said. The last time Malaysia qualified for the World Cup was in 2002 when Malaysia played host but finished in 8th spot while the country's best ever achievement in the World Cup was a fourth spot in 1975. The World Cup, organised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) is held once in four years since 1971 and features only the top 12 teams in the world. National Squad Ahmad Kazamirul Nasruddin; Azlan Miron; Azreen Rizal Nasir; Baljit Singh Charun Singh; Chua Boon Huat; Faiz Helmi Jali; Faizal Saari; Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin; Jivan Mohan; Khairulnizam Ibrahim; Kumar Subramaniam; Meor Muhamad Azuan Hassan; Mohamad Sukri Abdul Mutalib; Mohammad Izad Hakimi Jamaluddin; Mohd Fitri Saari; Mohd Shahrun Nabil Abdullah; Muhamad Amin Rahim; Muhammad Azammi Adabi; Muhammad Firhan Ashaari; Muhammad Ramadan Rosli; Muhammad Marhan Mohd Jalil; Muhammad Razie Abdul Rahim