KUALA LUMPUR: The inability to convert chances from open play and penalty corners, and too much individual play are among the areas Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) will need to work on before they take on Maybank on Sunday.
The university side played below expectations in the 3-2 defeat to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) in Friday's Malaysian Hockey League Premier Division match.
Coach A. Arul Selvaraj fears that if his team's limitations are not rectified, they may end up disappointed again against Maybank.
Players like Jeroen Hertzberger, Sander de Wijn, Glen Turner, Kieren Govers and Marhan Jalil are among the key players who could provide the spark needed to carry UniKL through.
However, these players must avoid overdoing things.
"We were complacent and paid the price for it,” said Arul.
“We were running too much with the ball and also too slow in attack against TNB.
"And our defenders were also ball watching at times.
“Overall, it was a poor performance that cost us the match and we need to take stock of the situation.”
Arul said his team need to tighten penalty corner executions as they were poor against TNB.
"Maybank are a good side and we cannot take things for granted or we will pay the price,” said Arul.
"We need to have points on the board and it must start from the match against Maybank.
“We need to pull up our socks and there are no two ways about it but play hockey that we are capable of," Arul added.
Fixtures:-
Sunday
MPL Premier Division
TNB v KLHC (Pitch Two; 6pm)
Maybank v UniKL (Pitch Two; 8pm)
THT v TNB Thunderbolts (Batu Burok Hockey Stadium; 8.30pm)
* matches at National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil unless stated