KUALA LUMPUR: Former Pakistan national team manager and coach, Agha Murtaza Ali, believes that teenager Imran Moiz is prepared to play a key role for Malaysia at the Thailand Sea Games next year.
Agha said Imran, 19, has progressed well in recent seasons and is ready for first team action at the Sea Games.
Imran, 14 at the time, made his Sea Games debut at Manila 2019 and won a silver medal in the low goal competition. Malaysia also won the high goal gold medal during the same edition.
The sport was not included during the 2021 Hanoi and 2023 Phnom Penh editions.
"Imran is an amazing player, he is still very young but mentally is already very matured," said Agha recently.
"He understands the game well and he doesn't rush. I saw him last season and he has definitely improved by leaps and bounds this season.
"I 100 per cent believe he is ready and will be a huge asset to the Malaysian first team."
Imran, who captained the Moiz Boys team, impressed during the recent Malaysia Youth Polo Tournament where he was named most valuable player for the final.
Moiz Boys defeated International All Stars 6-5 in the title decider at Kuala Lumpur Polo Club (KLPC) with Imran scoring all six goals for the former.
Agha added that he believes Malaysia has a strong chance of doing well at the Thailand Sea Games.
"I think Malaysia has a very good chance at the Sea Games," said Agha.
"This is because polo is played at a wide spectrum (relative to other Sea Games countries) here at three or four big centres in Pahang, Putrajaya, Johor and of course here at KLPC.
"There has been a lot invested in facilities, horses and people here so I think they (Malaysia national team) stand a very good chance."
Agha is currently coaching at the Kuala Lumpur Academy of Polo and served as the tournament director for the Malaysia Youth Polo Tournament.