Kuala lumpur: The National Netball Super League (NSL) continues to play a pivotal role for the Malaysian Netball Association (PBJM) in identifying and evaluating the country's top talent for the national squad as part of preparations for the 2027 SEA Games, which will be hosted on home ground.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, PBJM President Alwiyah Talib emphasized that the selection process for players involves more than just the coaches' opinions. An evaluation panel is also engaged to monitor the performances of players across various tournaments throughout the year.
"When there are competitions such as the NSL and other tournaments organized by PBJM, this is the time for us to identify players with real potential. We select only the best, without favouritism or cronyism," she stated during the NSL launch at Astro Studio Bukit Jalil.
Alwiyah highlighted that key tournaments such as the National Youth Championship, the Malaysia Games (SUKMA), and the NSL itself serve as benchmarks in the ongoing search for players. These platforms help build a comprehensive list of potential players before the final squad is determined.
"We already have a long list of players and the search will continue until we find the best combination. In the end, we will select around 12 players only to represent Malaysia," she added.
In addition to player selection, Alwiyah announced that the fifth edition of the NSL, set to run from April 10 to May 17, will introduce several enhancements to improve the quality of play. These include the implementation of the 'super shot' rule, which awards two points for goals scored from a designated zone outside a specific line during the final five minutes of play.
"This innovation has been widely used in overseas leagues such as in Australia. It not only adds excitement to the game but also gives trailing teams a chance to close the gap in the closing stages," she noted.
Furthermore, this season's NSL will debut pre-season matches and will organize the Original Cup shortly after the league concludes, as part of efforts to expand exposure and playing time for local players.