KUALA LUMPUR: Midfielder Syawal Abdul Razak, who played in the Scottish Premier Hockey League from August to November last year, hopes to be selected for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from May 4-11.
The 23-year-old from Pekan, through TNB Thunderbolts' Fahmi Khalid, joined the Uddingston club. He felt that he has become a much better and disciplined player after the Scottish stint.
"It was a good experience, I learned the English style of play.
"My confidence has improved after playing against bigger sized players in the Scottish League.
"I hope what I learn from the Scottish League will help me impress the national coaches," he said.
Syawal is among 30 players in centralised training for three tournaments: the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland (May 31-June 9) and Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia (Sept 8-17).
National coach Sarjit Singh will name his final 18-player squad after two friendlies - against world No. 10 New Zealand on May 1 and world No. 11 South Korea on May 2 in Ipoh.
Syawal said he was supposed to return to Scotland last month to continue playing for Uddingston Club but he has to continue his studies at UPM. He played for Maybank in last month's Malaysia Hockey League and they finished third.
Syawal said he will face challenges from midfielders Fitri Saari, Shello Silverius, Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi and Alfarico Lance Liau for a place in the national team.
