Nor Saful wants senior trio for Sultan of Johor Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: National junior hockey coach Nor Saiful Zaini is seeking the assistance of three experienced players to bolster his team's chances in the upcoming Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC). The five-nation Under-21 tournament, set to commence on October 17 at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, will feature competing nations such as Pakistan, Japan, China, Canada, and Malaysia.

Nor Saiful has identified defender Andywalfian Jeffrynus, midfielder Adam Ashraf Johari, and forward Che Nur Aqilrullah Che Khairulzi Anwar as the key players he needs.

Although Andywalfian and Che Nur Aqilrullah were part of the 20-player squad that attended the Asian Games in Japan but did not participate, Adam played in the 2025 Junior World Cup in India and was not selected for the Asian Games. Nor Saiful believes that the inclusion of these three seasoned players will significantly enhance his team's ability to challenge formidable opponents like Pakistan, Japan, and China.

He emphasizes the importance of having the best possible players to secure a strong performance in the tournament.

However, Nor Saiful remains uncertain about the availability of the three players, as the national senior team is scheduled to participate in the Asian Champion Trophy in Punjab, India, from October 27 to November 5. He is also hoping to secure the services of two other players, T Naaveennash Panicker and Eswaran George, who currently play for Tenaga Nasional and Maybank in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).

Nor Saiful hopes that Tenaga Nasional and Maybank will release these players, as their inclusion would further strengthen his team's chances in the SoJC. The national juniors began their campaign against China on October 18, with the final slated for October 24.