TODAY’S final group match of the Under-18 Asia Cup between Malaysia and Pakistan has a limited amount of significance as both teams are already assured of a place in the semifinals.

FAISAL: A boost for the team

However, Malaysia and Pakistan are not planning to take each other lightly as both teams believe that the match today is the dress rehearsal for the final on Saturday, or at least that is what Malaysia’s head coach K. Dharmaraj believes.

The Malaysian boys have been in impressive form thus far. They are on a purple patch after consecutive victories over Taiwan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar and most notably a 3-2 win over India. Prior to the tournament, Dharmaraj cited that there was no justice in pitting all three — India, Pakistan and Malaysia (whom he believed were the three best Under-18 hockey nations) in the same group, and he still hasn’t changed his opinion.

“This is going to be like a final (against Pakistan). I’m confident that regardless of tomorrow’s result, both of us will win the semifinals and meet again in the final. Korea and Japan may be placed higher than us in the FIH rankings but they are not better than us in this age group category (Under-18).

“I’ve said even before the tournament that grouping Malaysia, India and Pakistan in the group was unfair but people took it wrongly. I was not trying to give an excuse for any kind of potential failure before the tournament. My concern was just that some things could have been done in a more proper manner.

“However, it is all behind us now and for tomorrow, I don’t want to put any pressure on the boys by demanding a win. I just want them to give their best though the outcome of the match wouldn’t matter. In the same breath I don’t want the winning momentum to be broken at such a crucial stage.

“If we win against Pakistan, which is going to be a very balanced game, it will definitely be a good morale booster for the players,” said Dharmaraj.

Indeed the team already received a boost with the return of national team forward Faisal Saari. Faisal has been on duty with the Malaysian seniors at the recent World Cup Qualifiers in Invercargill where the team lost 2-1 in the final to hosts New Zealand. Faisal, who was making his tournament debut for the team, was impressive throughout the tourney and scored three goals in the process.

“Faisal’s presence will be a big lift for the whole team. He’s a very important player for us and his absence may have just been a blessing in disguise. The team have come this far without their most dangerous striker and now with him in I’m confident that we can win this tournament,” said Dharmaraj.