SHOOTING STAR RAZIE ALL GEARED UP

PIXS BY EDDY MANAN

RAZIE BENT ON CONTIUNING HIS GOAL SCORING SPREE

 Police inspector Muhammad Razie Abd Rahim who has been instrumental in gunning down his opponents South Africa and Japan, to put Malaysia in the final, is on a mission against Korea tomorrow (Thursday) to create history in the 29^th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2022 International Men's hockey tournament.

Malaysia in the last 28 editions only managed runners-up spots on five occasions (1985,2007,2009, 2013, 2014) and third place two times (1996 and 2019).

“All the players all geared up to create history to win the title this time around. It is not that we are over confident, but it is just that we all desire to win the trophy to create history to bag the title for the first time,” said Razie, 35, the oldest player in the team, who capped his 300 cap against Japan on Monday night.

 "It is not going to be an easy match, but we want to make up for our opening match defeat to Korea (0-3) and end the tournament on a high note,” said Razie who is the top scorer for Malaysia and tournament so far, with five goals to his name.

He has scored three goals (two penalty corner and one penalty stoke goal against South Africa in their 7-2 win) and two goals through penalty corners in their 4-2 win over Japan, for a total of five.

“We did not do well in our opening game against Korea, but having done video analysis, we know our mistakes and will be correcting them.”

Personally, Razie said he too did not play to expectations in early stages of the competition, but he has bounced back with the team to be on a  roll.   

“I have worked on what I lacked by being more focused in the game and clinical on my penalty corners finishing,” said Razie who had scored 13 goals (11 penalty corners and two penalty strokes at the Asia Cup in Jakarta in May.”

Asked if he was looking forward to add to his goal tally against Korea, he simply replied: “We play as a team, it does matter who scores because it is a team effort and we win the game.

“Besides, I will not be in a position to score from penalty corners if my teammates do not earn the penalty corners.

“I will do my best to from penalty corners, as whenever I score from penalty corners, it adds confidence to the players and at the same time takes off some pressure from them,’ said Razie who hails from Sungei Besi in Kuala Lumpur.

The solid looking Razie who stands 1.75m tall and in a solid frame of 73kgs said that the team will be going for broke to win the title because  a win will be tremendous boost for the team for the Nation’s Cup in South Africa (qualifier for Pro League) at the end of the month and World Cup in India in January.

So expect the cop to make his every shot count against Korea to realise the team’s goal.

 

Ends.