KUALA LUMPUR — Former national hockey players Jiwa Mohan and Baljit Singh are set to come out of retirement, joining forces with younger players to help Matadors Hockey Club achieve a top-four finish in next year’s Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
Making its debut in the top-tier league, Matadors Hockey Club is recognised as one of the fastest-growing hockey academies in Malaysia.
The team will be led by businessman Sarwan Singh, who will also serve as the club manager.
Speaking to Scoop, Sarwan, the younger brother of national hockey head coach Sarjit Singh, confirmed the club’s participation in the MHL and revealed that the squad will also feature top players from Pakistan to bolster its strength.
The Pakistani players recruited for the Matadors include Abdul Hannan Shahid, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Zikriya Hayat, Abdul Waheed Ashraf Rana, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Usama Bashir, Abdul Mannan, and Rana Muhammad Waleed Ashraf.
Complementing the international expertise, 95% of the team comprises Indian and Punjabi players aged 15 to 21, alongside experienced athletes from various MHL teams.
“While other teams focus on signing superstar players from abroad, we’ve opted for a different approach by building a young, formidable core of Indian and Punjabi players,” said Sarwan.
“We’ve invested RM700,000 into assembling this team. Our goal is to reach the top four.
“Although we’ll be facing some powerhouse teams, we’re not afraid of losing. As long as our players gain exposure and get into the national team’s radar, we’ll be happy.”
Sarwan believes the presence of seasoned players like Jiwa, Baljit, and the Pakistani stars will provide invaluable learning opportunities for the younger talents.
“Our boys rarely get the chance to play competitive, international-standard hockey. With this lineup, they’ll automatically improve over the years. Hockey is about smart play, and I’m confident they’ll give their best.”
The team has already begun training at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium, with the Pakistani players expected to join by the New Year.
Coaching the Matadors will be K. Yogeswaran, who previously led Perak to three consecutive Razak Cup victories in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
The 2025 MHL, running from January 4 to February 22, will also see the league debut of the Darwin-based Northern Territory Stingers. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces will return to the women’s competition after a 10-year hiatus.
The confirmed teams for the men’s competition are Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), defending champions Terengganu Hockey Team (THT), Maybank, Nurinsafi Sporting, UiTM HA-KPT, Armed Forces, TNB Thunderbolts, Liaoning HT (China), and NT Stingers.
In the women’s category, participating teams include Malaysian University, Blue Warriors, Negeri Sembilan, Qnet Phoenix, Mutiara-MSSPP-PSHA-PKS-Uniten, Armed Forces, and NT Stingers.
Established in 1987, the MHL remains Malaysia’s premier field hockey league. – December 29, 2024
