LHM 2025: TNB Wary Of Challenges From Local, Foreign Teams In Bid To Achieve Another Treble

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) hockey team is wary of the threat from new challengers as well as traditional foes Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) and Maybank, in its quest to defend the 'treble' when the Malaysian Hockey League (LHM 2025) kicks off this year.

TNB head coach Nor Saiful Zaini Nasruddin admitted that the LHM 2025 competition has become more challenging with the participation of representatives from Australia, Territory Stringers and Liaoning club from China, while the Matador club, which will make its debut, managed to tie in eight Pakistani national players. 

TNB, who emerged champions in all three competitions - Charity Shield (Piala Sumbangsih), league and TNB Cup in 2024 - will open their campaign against THT, who emerged as the third runner-up of the competition, in the Charity Shield action on Saturday at pitch 2, Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium.

"When we enter the competition as the treble winners, of course all teams will try to beat us. Players should also understand that it is not easy to retain three trophies, so it is necessary to work together to overcome the pressure.

"Our attacking line is solid and the defence is good, but many teams use tactics to trap TNB during the counter-attack (last season). We also have to pay attention to this," he said during the LHM 2025 press conference here, today. 

He said the fierce challenge that is expected through the presence of players and teams from abroad is good for the Malaysian hockey ecosystem by providing additional exposure and different skills to the players.

This year TNB retains its hopes on local players as they retained the likes of Muhammad Marhan Jalil, Shello Selverius, Faiz Helmi Jali and Norsyafiq Sumantri, with South Korea's penalty corner specialist Jang Jong Hyun, 40, the team's only import.

Nor Saiful Zaini said the services of midfielder Jong Hyun was very important for his team in moving the ball from the defensive line and long balls are widely used in the modern hockey system of play.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) Competition Committee chairman Datuk Seri Anil Jeet Singh said MHC has not received any complaints from any team regarding the LHM 2025 competition schedule.

When asked about the team's grievances over a tight schedule and the loss of several players to represent the country at the Indoor World Cup in Crotia, early next month, he said the MHC fixed the schedule based on the International Hockey Federation (FIH) calendar and festivals such as Ramadan and Hari Raya.

"A total of 30 matches played on Field 2 of the National Hockey Stadium will be broadcast live via Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) channel. Only a few selected matches will be played at Field 1 due to a number of factors, including the organisation of concerts.

"We have decided that the collection from the Charity Shield action this year will be channelled to flood victims, with the value to be announced later," he said. 

-- BERNAMA