KUALA LUMPUR: The head coaches of France and New Zealand were left awestruck by the sheer size of the National Hockey Stadium and its international standard pitch following a friendly match today.
With the Junior World Cup (JWC) beginning nn Dec 5, teams are diligently acclimating to the humid weather and the impeccably laid artificial pitch.
French coach Matthias Dierckens lauded the stadium, asserting it surpasses the quality of the venue for next year's Olympic Games in Paris.
"This stadium is exceptionally beautiful, and the pitch is of high quality, providing teams the opportunity to refine their playing style.
"In comparison to the Olympic venue, this stadium is vast and grand.
"Additionally, we've heard about the hockey-loving fans in Malaysia, and we believe they will come to cheer not only for their own team but for all others as well," said Dierckens.
New Zealand coach Aaron Ford echoed Dierckens' sentiments regarding the stadium and pitch.
"This is a great stadium, and the pitch is wonderful. Our training sessions went well, and the prospect of playing in the JWC at this venue is simply fantastic," said Aaron.
For the record, France are Malaysia's bogey team in the JWC.
The French team secured a 3-1 shootout victory over the Young Tigers after a 1-1 draw in the semi-finals of the 2013 New Delhi edition.
Two years ago in Bhubaneswar, France halted Malaysia in the quarter-finals with an emphatic 4-0 win.
Malaysia will face France, Germany, Egypt or South Africa from Group B in the quarter-finals if the hosts finish top two in Group A.
While the National Stadium is still undergoing final preparations, including road tarring and minor last-minute repairs by contractors, coaches have given their approval for both the playing pitch and its grand design.