Faizal Saari
Personal information
Full name Faizal bin Saari
Born (1991-01-13) 13 January 1991 (age 33)
Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu,
Malaysia
Playing position Forward
Senior career
Years Team
2009–2011 Tenaga Nasional Berhad
2011– Southern Hotshots
2011– Forestville
2012– Tenaga Nasional Berhad
2012–2013 Mumbai Magicians
2013– Terengganu
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009– Malaysia 226 (176)
Medal record
Men's field hockey
Representing  Malaysia
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2010 Guangzhou Team
Silver medal – second place 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Team
Asia Cup
Silver medal – second place 2017 Dhaka
Silver medal – second place 2022 Jakarta
Asian Champions Trophy
Silver medal – second place 2023 Chennai
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Ordos
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Doha
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Kakamigahara
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Malaysia
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Muscat
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2017 Kuala Lumpur Team

Faizal bin Saari (born 13 January 1991) is a Malaysian field hockey player.[1] Currently playing as a striker for Terengganu Hockey Team.

Career

Club

Faizal started his Malaysia Hockey League career with Terengganu Hockey Team. He was the 2011 league top goalscorer with 19 goals.[2]

In June 2011, Faizal started his overseas career along with another Malaysian Sukri Mutalib. They were selected by the Southern Hotshots team for the Australian Hockey League. He represented Southern Hotshots in the ten matches league.[3] He scored three goals in five matches for Southern Hotshots. He also played in the Adelaide League and made seven strikes for Forestville Hockey Club in three appearances.[4]

In 2012, he returned to Tenaga Nasional Berhad Hockey Club and earned the top goalscorer award with 20 goals.[5] While playing for Tenaga Nasional Berhad, he received an offer to play in the Spanish Division One for Atlètic Terrassa Hockey Club.[6]

After the 2012 season ended, Faizal was bought over by Mumbai Magicians for US$26,000 (MYR79,560) in an auction to feature in the Hockey India League. He is the highest paid hockey player in Malaysia, followed by Kumar Subramaniam who featured for Uttar Pradesh Wizards after being bought over for US$15,000 (MYR45,900).[7] However he had a miserable outing in the HIL firing blanks in all 12 matches.[8]

International

Faizal made his national senior team debut in the Champions Challenge II in Dublin in 2009 aged 18.[9] He was the members of the Malaysian squad that won the silver medal in the 2010 Asian Games.[10] He also part of Malaysia youth team that won the 2012 Asian Hockey Youth Cup. He scored one of the two goals in the final against Pakistan.[11]

Faizal was the leading goal scorer at the 2018 Asian Men's Hockey Champions Trophy where he finished with 8 goals. Malaysia finished at the 3rd place after defeating Japan 3–2 in the penalty shootouts in the bronze medal match.

References

  1. ^ Faizal peledak keramat negara Archived 29 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine – Berita Harian, 14 May 2012. (in Malay)
  2. ^ Malaysia to play without top strikers. – New Straits Times, 4 November 2011.
  3. ^ "Malaysian Hockey Player Faizal Saari optimistic for his debut in Australian Hockey League". Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Faizal Saari assures to keep his annoyance in calm in the Razak Cup". Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Fieldhockey.com Archives 2014 -". www.fieldhockey.com.
  6. ^ In-demand striker Faizal hoping to play in Spain. – The Star, 4 September 2012.
  7. ^ Faizal hopes to keep up the magic. Archived 29 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine – sports247, 30 December 2012.
  8. ^ Striker Faizal fails to sound the board in 12 IHL matches. – The Star, 15 February 2013.
  9. ^ Faizal hopes Aussie stint will help sharpen his scoring act. – The Star, 26 May 2011.
  10. ^ "Faizal Saari is emerging as a future star of the Malaysian hockey". Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  11. ^ Harian, Sinar (6 January 2023). "Sukan Sinar Harian". Sinar Harian.

External links

Malaysia squad – 2010 Asian Games – Silver medal
Malaysia squad – 2014 World Cup – 12th place
Malaysia squad – 2018 World Cup – 15th place
Malaysia squad – 2018 Asian Games – Silver medal
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