KUALA LUMPUR: Goal-scoring machine Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal is hungry for more after scoring an impressive 23 goals in 10 matches en route to Tenaga Nasional's victories in the Charity Shield and Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
Tenaga will be gunning for a treble when they start their TNB Cup campaign on Friday.
Azrai is on course to win the top scorers' award for the second straight year but his teammate, Jang Jong Hyun, who has netted 20 times, could spoil the party for him.
Nurinsafi Sporting's Nur Rahul Hrsikesa Thaitchana Muruthi is ranked third among the top scorers with 17 goals.
Tenaga hammered JW Antsbees 22-1 on Tuesday to win the MHL title for the first time in 21 years, topping the league on goal difference over Terengganu after both finished equalled on 26 points.
Last season, Azrai scored 40 goals from 17 matches for Tenaga, a club he has been representing since 2019.
With his outstanding form, Azrai will likely lead Malaysia's forward line in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh on May 4-11 and the Nations Cup in Poland on May 31-June 9.
The 25-year-old Azrai said he is very satisfied with his form and is raring for more goals in the TNB Cup.
Tenaga will open their TNB Cup campaign in the quarter-final first leg against KL City at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Friday.
They will face KL again in the return leg on Sunday at the same venue.
"Despite my scoring rate, I need to be sharper in the semi-circle. The TNB Cup is a knockout competition, and I cannot afford to be wasteful.
"I hope my goals in the league will earn me a spot in the national team for the upcoming assignments," said Azrai, who has earned 70 caps since making his international debut in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2019.
Tenaga coach Nur Saiful Zaini described Azrai as an asset and believes the forward will emerge as the top scorer.
"However, I must remind him not to be selfish just to score more goals in the TNB Cup.
"The club come first. Hockey is not about individuals. We hope to win a treble this season," said Saiful.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Universities must beat CS Mustang tomorrow to win the women's MHL.
FIXTURES
TOMORROW
Women's MHL: Liaoning Team vs Mutiara Impian (National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil - 4pm), Kedah vs MSP-PHP-SSNP (Bertam Hockey Stadium -5pm), KL City vs Negri Sembilan (Education Ministry Turf - 5pm), QNET Phoenix vs PDRM Blue Warriors (National Hockey Stadium - 6pm), Malaysian Universities vs CS Mustang (National Hockey Stadium, Pitch 2 - 6pm).
FRIDAY
Men's TNB Cup
Quarter-finals (first legs: Tenaga v KL City (National Hockey Stadium - 6pm), Terengganu vs Liaoning Team (National Hockey Stadium, Pitch 2 - 6pm), Maybank vs TNB Thunderbolts (National Hockey Stadium - 8pm), Nurinsafi Sporting vs UITM HA-KPT (Bertam Hockey Stadium - 8pm).
