Abstract from The Star - https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/hockey/2020/11/01/fitri-shocked-but-not-broken
“For me, I’m a little shocked. The coach said he doesn’t see
much of my hard work and feels that my attitude is not a good example for the
younger players, ” said Fitri.
When pressed on what he meant by his attitude, he said: “I
guess it is my body language. I’m a quiet person and not imposing. So I guess I
have to change my demeanour.
“I guess, I have to be more imposing and allow my hockey to
do the talking. I will learn to communicate more with the players.
“I’ll be back. I will give my all in next year’s Malaysia
Hockey League (MHL) and prove that I still deserve a spot.
“It’s not that I am not hardworking, but it is my appearance
that gives that outlook. I will change that for sure because I want to play for
the nation again.”
Meanwhile, Arul said at the moment, Fitri has failed to
convince him.
“For now, he is not in my plan. If he shows his capability
in the MHL, for sure I will consider him, ” he said.
My Comments:
Answer – I disagree to drop Fitri
Saari just like that…
It doesn’t make sense as you
retain 4 injured players among them are Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Ahmad
Jalil, Shahril Saabah, Mohd Haziq Samsul, Mohd Amirol Aideed Mohd Arshad and
Mohd Hafiz Zainol.
Fisrtly, no Coaches has selected
a big group of players of 36 for national team. This is a High Performance Team
and not a Kem Bakat or Development Team.
Then you reduced to 30 without
Fitri Saari and favouring 4 injured players and 4 uncapped players.
Hello – the 4 injured
players shouldn’t be considered in camp and put them into rehabilitation phase
and join in upon recovery and with that you could still include Fitri Saari
into camp.
I didn’t know that nowadays that “a
player is dropped due to his quietness”. Unbelievable reasoning.
When you dropped a seasoned
senior player like Fitri Saari, the reason must be a valid one. You telling me
that the 4 injured players & 4 uncapped players are better than Fitri.
If Fitri has a fitness or morale
problem, any Coach will manage him well by giving him till January with special
program and attention to uplift him to his usual best performance. Dropping him
and telling him door is still open after MHL, is a total bullshit as you kill his morale and motivation of a calibre player like Fitri and many others. Even you are not sure when MHL will be held.
Fitri Saari is a complete
international player that possess high technical skills and contribute well to
any team. And Faizal Saari, the forward plays well and get key passes from his
brother Fitri. And with removing Fitri, indirectly you kill Faizal Saari performance
too as Fitri is the main feeder to Faizal.
You have been a player before but
looks like your approach is wrong or there may be a third hand instruction as
Fitri was very vocal in post mortem and blamed him for missing PS.
And there is a strong rumour going around
that you’re playing a favoritism and parent involvement in selection of
players. Hope it is not true and knowing you before, you may have changed in
your principle and integrity in life due to survival. Hope not?
More so, your main challenge is
2021 Asia Cup & 2022 Asian Games, you have time to keep Fitri Saari in team
till at least till end of January and not just dropping him like this without any
valid reason and your reason is a very subjective one which raised many questions
within the hockey fraternity.
This kind of decision shows & reflects the quality in you. Honestly, you need to buck up...
You next challenge would be
reducing to the team to 22 or 24. We all will be watching it closely.
Anyway, you all are called the “Trio
of 2016” that would save Malaysian Hockey!
P/S- Firduas Omar of Melaka is
not selected in National Camp? Why?
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