KUALA LUMPUR: Their names sound alike and both are good at wielding a stick.
Suhaimi Ibrahim represented the national hockey team from 1997 to 2002. And his eldest son, Shahmie Irfan Suhaimi, follows in his footsteps.
Suhaimi, from Gemencheh, Negri Sembilan, was a skilful striker and was also a deadly drag flicker for penalty corners. He has 120 international caps.
And Shahmie seems to be a chip off the old block as he, too, can score field goals and slam home penalty corners.
Malaysia will be looking to Shahmie for goals in the Junior World Cup (JWC) in Bukit Jalil from Dec 5-16.
The 44-year-old Suhaimi, who is a bank employee, said: "Shahmie learned to play hockey from me when he was in primary school. But he developed his skill when playing for SMK Dato Taha School in Gemencheh.
"I also studied at the same school which has produced hockey players that went on to represent both the state and national team.
"I had never played in the JWC but I feel proud that my son will be representing Malaysia in the JWC.
"In the recent Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC), the Malaysian team did not do well. I want my son to play much better in the JWC and also score goals."
In the SoJC, Malaysia lost to New Zealand (3-2), India (3-1), Pakistan (3-2), Great Britain (7-4), and beat South Africa 3-2 to finish seventh among eight teams.
"I also have two twin sons who are hockey players, but they have not reached the level of Shahmie," said Suhaimi, who was a member of the national team that won a Commonwealth Games silver in 1998.
Suhaimi also represented Malaysia in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and since then the national hockey team have not appeared in the Olympics/
The 21-year-old Shahmie said: "My dad was a calm and good national striker, and he wants me to do much better than him in hockey.
"However, I was not too happy with my performance in the SoJC as I converted only two penalty corners. I didn't score a single field goal.
"I need to play much better in the JWC, score goals and help Malaysia to achieve a top four spot."
In the JWC, Malaysia are drawn in Group A with defending champions Argentina, Australia and Chile while Group B consists of Egypt, France, Germany and South Africa.
Group C has Canada, India, South Korea and Spain while Group D has Belgium, Netherlands, Pakistan and New Zealand.