KUALA LUMPUR — Nurinsafi Sporting had a demoralising start in this season’s Malaysia Hockey League (MHL), conceding 13 goals in their first two matches.
Despite the setbacks, the Penang-based club are determined to regroup as they prepare to face China-based Liaoning tomorrow.
In their campaign opener, Nurinsafi suffered a 5-1 defeat to two-time MHL champions Maybank on January 12.
Making their third appearance in the country’s top-tier hockey league, the club’s struggles continued yesterday with an 8-1 loss to debutants Matadors Hockey Club.
The team’s defensive frailties have raised concerns, but captain Nur Rahul Hrsikesa Thaitchana Muruthi believes the squad can overcome these challenges with better focus and strategy.
“We need to stop conceding from short corners, as that has been our biggest weakness in the opening two games. As team captain, I have a responsibility to lead my teammates, and I’ve already had discussions with the head coach.
“Avoiding short corners will be our main priority for now,” Rahul told Scoop.
Acknowledging the physicality of their next opponents, Rahul said that fitness and speed would be critical in the clash against Liaoning, who are making their fourth MHL appearance.
“Liaoning players are physically strong, so we need to outmatch them with our fitness and speed, ensuring we don’t give them space to move.
“Most importantly, we need to forget about the past two matches and approach the game with a positive mindset,” he added.
Liaoning opened their season with an impressive 6-1 victory over the Armed Forces but were brought down to earth with a 5-0 loss to TNB Thunderbolts on January 14.
Currently, Nurinsafi sits at the bottom of the 10-team league, with 17 matches left in the season that concludes on February 22.
The team’s struggles this year contrast with Rahul’s individual brilliance in the previous season, where he scored 18 goals to finish third in the scoring charts behind Terengganu’s Faizal Saari (23 goals) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal (32 goals).
Nurinsafi now looks to turn their fortunes around, starting with tomorrow’s clash. — January 16, 2025
