KUALA LUMPUR: The national men's team need to be reminded that hockey is a game of four quarters when they compete in the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) which begins tomorrow in Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia.
When coach Sarjit Singh's team play Pakistan in their opener, the Speedy Tigers will be haunted by painful memories of their inconsistencies.
Three-time winners and world No. 16 Pakistan look ominous. The Green Shirts came out better in the last four meetings between the two teams.
At the Hangzhou Asian Games last October, Pakistan defeated Malaysia 5-2. In an Olympic qualifier in Muscat in January, Pakistan thrice came back from a goal down to draw 3-3 with Malaysia. In the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in May, Pakistan won 5-4, and in the Nations Cup in Poland in June, Pakistan rallied from 3-1 down to draw 4-4.
Former national captain Nor Saiful Zaini said the Speedy Tigers were inconsistent and lacked fitness in the Nations Cup.
"They lost matches after crumbling in the third and fourth quarters due to continued pressure from opponents.
"I hope Sarjit has managed to overcome the team's inconsistency and improve their fitness for the ACT."
The Speedy Tigers eye a bright start against the Green Shirts to boost their confidence for the next matches. But Malaysia's confidence has taken a beating in their trip to Europe in July following the thrashings by Germany (10-1) and the Netherlands (6-0).
Although world No. 13 Malaysia are the second-highest ranked team in the ACT after world No. 5 and Olympics bronze medallist India, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation has set a modest target, based on their recent results, of a top four finishing.
The other teams in the fray are South Korea (No. 14), Japan (No. 15), Pakistan (No. 16) and hosts China (No. 23). Malaysia finished second to India in last year's ACT in Chennai.
Goalkeeper Zaimi Mat Deris will have a chance to prove himself in the ACT in the absence of first choice Hafizuddin Othman, who is nursing a shoulder injury.
Sarjit will again bank on veteran Faizal Saari for field goals and penalty corner goals in Hulunbuir City.
Tomorrow's matches
South Korea v Japan, Malaysia v Pakistan, India v China