KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- The Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) are expected to use the Khir Johari Gold Cup sepak takraw championship that kicks off at the Titiwangsa Stadium, here from April 7-11, as a platform to identify potential "tekongs" for the national team.
PSM Coaching Committee Chairman Tengku Adnan Tengku Burhanuddin said finding suitable "tekongs" for the national squad was important as two of the current "tekongs" are tied down by work commitments.
"Norshahidan Masri and Sulaiman Salleh are finding difficulties in securing leave from their employers and this has affected their training and our preparations," he told reporters at the National Sports Council (NSC) training centre in Keramat here today.
Tengku Adnan said due to the unavailability, the elite national squad currently has only six "tekongs" and PSM hope to identify at least three more talented ones who can be drafted into the squad," he said.
Fourteen teams, including defending champion Kuala Lumpur will be vying for honours when the Khir Johari Gold Cup kicks off at the Titiwangsa Stadium.
"This year, we will be facing some very high level tournaments including the World Sepak Takraw championships in May, Thailand King's Cup in July and Laos SEA Games in December. To face these tournaments, we need to go through intensive training," he said.
Tengku Adnan added that former national player and coach Iskandar Arshad would return to coach the national elite squad starting May 1 to try and beef up the squad, especially the "killers" since Iskandar had played in that position before.
Iskandar was also the driving force behind the team that beat Thailand to capture the gold at the 2005 Manila SEA Games after 12 years.
-- BERNAMA
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