Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Midfielder Shaiful Azli has decided to make a return to the national hockey training squad while his Maybank clubmate, K. Gobinathan, wants out.

The duo were among the 26 players called up for training under new national coach WallaceTan. Training begins on Dec 15.

Shaiful said yesterday that he had resolved the problems that forced him to quit the team and he would now be able to concentrate on training.

“I quit last June because of recurring injuries and family commitments. But the one-year break has helped and I am now injury-free,” he said.

“I have also settled my family problems to some extend. I hope to move the family to KL once we start full-time training. That way I do not have to travel back and forth from KL to Johor every weekend.”

The 27-year-old Shaiful added that he would feel comfortable training under Wallace.

“Wallace is also the coach at Maybank and I will have no problem following his training programme. I realise that the services of the senior players are required and I will do my best to help the national team,” he said.

Saiful last donned national colours in the Champions Challenge in South Africa but he continued to play for Maybank in the Malaysia Hockey League and also for Johor in the recent Razak Cup tournament.

For Gobinathan, a break from the national team has become retirement from international competitions.

“Now I feel that it's time to quit altogether. I want to look at other things to do and in the long term go into coaching. I have given a lot of thought to this. I have also informed Wallace about my decision and he asked me to reconsider,” he said.

“I'm sure about what I want to do. I do not want to come back temporarily. It's better to groom another player to play in my position.”

Gobinathan added that he had already submitted a quit letter to the MHF a few months ago and he would send another to explain why he wanted to retire from international hockey.

“But I will still continue to play in local tournaments,” he added.

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