Mohd Hafizuddin Othman: Malaysia's future!

As has been reported, Malaysia is looking to its future to step up to being the present force in goal. And Mohd Othman is key to Malaysia's future because of the vulnerable age of the country's current crop of goalkeepers. Impressing in training with the senior side having competed in the Junior World Cup a few months ago, he has gotten his chance at the Azlan Shah trophy tournament and potentially in the next lot of international series coming up because of his ability. Hafizuddin was named as the only goalkeeper (a trend for the Olympics rather than anything else with a goalkeeper taking up a spare space in the squad list, on the bench and in the accommodation) for the tour to Perth, clearly proving himself to coaching stuff.

It's not often you see this happen hockey, even if Simone Scuffet has seemingly almost guaranteed his place as third choice for the Italian squad for the Rio World Cup, so it's worth keeping tabs on his future! You can read more about Malaysian reports' viewpoints following the links below:

http://www.veooz.com/news/pG_wZh~.html

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Hockey/2013/11/27/Junior-hockey-keeper-to-be-decided-at-11th-hour.aspx/

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Hockey/2014/02/11/Hafizuddin-the-sole-goalkeeper-named-for-Perth-tour/

Charter continues to start for the Kookaburras

For now it seems that Andrew Charter is still the number one goalkeeper reigning supreme for Australia. Making the most of the chance to solidify his position going forward, getting the starts in the recent Azlan Shah adds to a playing portfolio that is really starting to add up now. Competing for his sport, knowing that other goalkeepers like Clemo and Lovell want to push for their own chance, is keeping him busy and active in his pursuit of playing time at the Rio Olympics.

You can see him taking shots in warm-ups at the Azlan Shah here, with Lovell stepping out after sharing the workload:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQNNc-fNfXk

Having had his own injury struggles, Charter is aware of the need to make the most of now and seize the moment, lest his hopes come crashing down. This knowledge is clearly firing him up to keep playing well. A lot of goalkeepers claim that having others breath down their necks causes confidence issues, but I for one feel competition is good and the desire to 'want it' is imperative to playing well. Whatever it takes to get the goalkeeper in question play well can only be good for themselves and obviously their team mates too!

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/kookaburras-still-on-hurt-keepers-agenda-20121022-281rx.html

Malaysia's junior goalkeepers get the call up at Azlan Shah

With both of their regular goalkeepers out injured and therefore unable to be called upon for recent international fixtures, Malaysian coaching staff had to resort to getting their youngsters to fill in between the posts, for the recent Azlan Shah tournament. With their incumbent starter getting on in years, there would be coming a day when they needed to 'break in' the next generation of goalkeeping talent to fill his void. But the future has become the now.

Not exactly something you would see happen elsewhere; in the sense that there would be a middle between experienced internationals to upcoming goalkeepers with good experience, right age and capable of making the step to international level to the junior ranks. And whilst it is a great experience for the goalies in question, puts a lot of pressure and could cause negative impact burning out a goalkeeper not yet ready for the level and its requirements.

You can read more about the move and see the goalies in action, following the links below:

http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/hockey-dharmaraj-s-attacking-philosophy-1.530790

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L66xK13tU-U