Pahang lad assumes new role in six-nation invitational tournament

Pahang lad assumes new role in six-nation invitational tournament
BY S. RAMAGURU

KUALA LUMPUR: Midfielder Mohamed Soffian Mohamed is one of the most experienced players in the National Junior hockey team but the six-nation junior invitational tournament, which begins here on Sunday, will be a first of sorts for him.

It will be the first international tournament where he will take on the role of central midfielder and it will be a big test for him ahead of the Junior World Cup Finals, which will be held in Rotterdam from June 28-July 10.

The 21-year-old Soffian said yesterday that he would be out to make a good impression in the tournament at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

�I am excited over the prospect of playing in a new role in an international meet,� he said.

�I played as a defender in the qualifying tournament in Karachi last year. Later in the year, I was asked to take the centre midfield role and I played in that position in the Razak Cup last December.�

Soffian added that he still had a lot to learn and hoped that he would settle in well playing in an offensive role before the outing in Rotterdam.

�The tournament next week is important because I will be able to gauge myself against more experience opponents. I will likely partner Kelvinder Singh and Mohamed Shukri Mutalib. We forged a good understanding in the Razak Cup,� he said.

Coach Sarjit Singh found the central midfield department a weak point in the team and he tried out a number of players over the last few months before settling for Soffian.

�We do not have a natural midfield player and Soffian is the best option available to us for the moment,� said Sarjit.

�He played well in the Razak Cup and also in the tour to Australia earlier this year. The six-nation tournament will help him learn more about playing in the position.�

Soffian said that he was fortunate that he had Sarjit to teach him playing the role of central midfielder.

�The coach was one of the best midfield players and I am glad I get to learn from him. From defending, I now have to set up the attacks. I have to play a lead role now and the other players would expect you to play at a much higher level,� he said.

Soffian is a product of the Seberang Temerloh School. It was his defensive qualities that brought him into the national junior training squad in 2002.

He left Pahang two years ago to play in Kuala Lumpur and is now a contract player with Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN). He intends to quit BSN and return home after the Junior World Cup Finals.

�The Sultan has appealed to Pahang-born players to return home to play for the state and I will do so. I have a job offer in Kuantan but nothing has been finalised yet. It is good that efforts have been made to get me a job in my home state,� said Soffian.

For the moment, he will give his full attention to the six-nation tournament and work on improving his game.

Malaysia open their campaign against Pakistan on Sunday. Their other opponents are England (Monday), Germany (Wednesday), South Korea (Thursday) and India (April 2).