Hafizuddin vows to fight for Speedy Tigers top goalkeeper spot
KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran Hafizuddin Othman is determined to fight his way back as the national men’s hockey team's No. 1 goalkeeper.
Hafizuddin Othman, a veteran goalkeeper for Malaysia's national hockey team, is determined to reclaim the No. 1 spot from his younger counterpart, Zaimi Mat Deris. At 34, Hafizuddin has 154 international caps and was the first-choice goalkeeper for six years before losing his position to Zaimi, who has played in all six matches since the World Cup in Belgium.
Zaimi's performance in the recent Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where Malaysia won silver, and the semi-finals and final, led to national goalkeepers coach S. Kumar's decision to field him in the crucial matches. Hafizuddin acknowledges this as a "wake-up call" and vows to train harder to regain his spot as a starter. Despite his age, Hafizuddin remains committed to playing for the national team, having been part of squads that won silver at the 2022 Asia Cup and the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy.
The Speedy Tigers will next compete in the six-nation Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab, India, from Oct 27-Nov 5.
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