KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor women’s hockey head coach Alam Syah Mohd Salim is confident his team will win the gold medal at this year’s Malaysian Games (Sukma).
The coach’s optimism followed his team’s triumph in the 2024 TNB-QNET Selangor Hockey League (SHL) women’s division, where they defeated Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris 1-0 in the final at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium today.
Alam was delighted with his team’s splendid performance throughout the tournament, which marked their inaugural participation.
The Selangor Sukma team topped this year’s SHL table with seven points (two wins, one draw, and zero defeats) from three matches.
Al Huda Zulaikha was voted the best women’s goalkeeper of the tournament.
“We are proud of winning the tournament today, but there is still much to improve before Sukma,” said Alam, when met after his team’s prize-giving ceremony.
“This is our first time competing in the SHL, and winning on our first attempt is a great platform for preparing for Sukma.
“We have seen a lot of progress from the girls since last November. This SHL tournament is one of the best they have competed in, allowing them to rub shoulders with some of the best talents in the country.”
However, Alam also expressed concerns about scouting for the best players for Sukma, citing the team’s lack of facilities to train and prepare for the tournament.
In the 2022 Sukma, Selangor finished as runners-up after losing 2-1 to Pahang in the final.
“I’m only worried about assembling the right players for Sukma as we don’t have the proper venue and facilities to train, unlike other states,” he added.
“We have been training at schools across Selangor, trying our best to train three times a week to ensure the girls follow our training system.
“Despite these challenges, our players are full of quality and committed on and off the pitch. I don’t foresee major issues in our quest to become Sukma champions.”
The SHL, returning after a five-year hiatus, ran from April 20 to June 1, aiming to unearth new hockey talents in the country.
The ninth edition was played at the Lembah Pantai Hockey Stadium and the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium, featuring three divisions (two men’s and one women’s), open to all age groups.
The 21st edition of Sukma is scheduled from August 17 to 24, with Sarawak hosting the prestigious event for the third time, the last two times being in 1990 and 2016. – June 2, 2024
