JOHOR BARU (21 October 2022): Emerging from a challenging period due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Sultan of Johor Cup 2022 resumes with its magical touch and reverberations at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru.
Featuring six hockey nations, the Sultan of Johor Cup is the only junior invitational hockey tournament in the world and will this year celebrate its 10th edition.
Since its inception held in 2011, five teams have emerged victorious. Great Britain are the most successful team having won the title three times, India and Australia have won the tournament twice followed by Germany and Malaysia once.
The Malaysian Juniors, coached by Amin Rahim, will be the focus of local hockey fraternity eager to see the host nation rise to wrest the title once again after a barren run in eight editions. Malaysia won the first edition.
The much-awaited 10th edition of the SOJC is set to kick off on Saturday, October 22, 2022. Australia and Japan (4.0pm) will kick off the proceedings on Day 1 (4.0pm), followed by matches between Great Britain and South Africa (6.0pm), and the much-anticipated duel between Malaysia and India (8.30pm).
The Indians have arrived with seven players from the 2021 Junior World Cup and four players who played in the 2019 SOJC tournament. Coach C.R. Kumar’s India certainly look a formidable opposition to the Britons, Australians, South Africans, Japanese, and Malaysians.
India, however, had disappointing tours of the SOJC in 2018 and 2019, going down 3-2 in the 2018 final against and 2-1 in 2019 final against Great Britain on both occasions. They are here to make amends.
Being the defending champions, Great Britain have set their target of winning the tournament for the fourth time after their historic wins in 2015, 2018 and 2019.
But the Australians, another big gun in the tournament, are equally passionate in continuing their momentum as strong title contenders to reclaim the championship they last won in 2016 and 2017.
Having won the bronze medal in 2016 but finished fourth in 2018 and 2019, the Japanese are also keen to get back on track to redeem their pride with a new set of players, like all the other five contenders.
Malaysia’s head coach Amin, said: “It’s a biggest challenge for us in the SOJC and we are up against great teams. Almost 14 players are having their first big tournament of their lives while four featured in the Asia Cup
“The SOJC is an important part of our programme as we will host the Junior World Cup (JWC) next year. The experience here will be good for the players,” he added.
The youngest player in the Malaysian team is 16-year-old Andy Walfian Jeffrynus.
South African manager Kagiso Mathaba said his young team will try to fend off the challenge from Australia and hope to end the match with a favourable result.
“This is our first time competing in the SOJC. We are grateful for the invitation. We have to keep our intensity and discipline check throughout the match as the Australians have always been a great side,” he said.