JHL haven for selectors

21/06/2002

TWENTY-two teams will begin their respective campaigns in the MHF-Milo-
Admiral-NSC Junior Hockey League today but at the end of the contest, the
biggest winner will be the sport itself.
It will be a mouth-watering experience for the Malaysian Hockey
Federation (MHF) selectors because all they need to do is identify two
good players from each team, which translates to a pool of 44 juniors for
future national assignments.
With such tremendous response, the MHF have also started to think about
dividing the 2003 season into two divisions should they get the same
response.
But it might never take off as this is Malaysia Games season where most
States can afford to register a side because of funding. The response will
not be so great next year.
Yayasan Negri Sembilan, who last played in the JHL in 1999, are a
classic example.
YNS made a re-entry in the the JHL because: "We want to put a good show
in the Sabah Malaysia Games and the same batch of players will be groomed
for honours in the 2004 Malaysia Games which Negri Sembilan will be
hosting," said YNS coach S. Chandran.
YNS will be fielding a raw side and "nothing but exposure can be
expected from them," said their coach and they deserve credit for trying
to revive the sport in the once hockey hot-bed of the nation.
"We have selected players with an average age of 17 and they come from
all over Negri Sembilan. Hopefully, in 2004 when we host the Malaysia
Games, the boys will be ready to put up a good show," said Chandran.
Tenaga Nasional, under coach K. Rajan, will start as the favourites but
as the Japan-Korea soccer World Cup has shown, the early tag does not mean
a thing. The frontrunners can only be identified after this weekend's
action.
The winners of Pool A and Pool B will each receive RM7,500 while the
overall champions pocket a cool RM25,000.
Last year, 15 teams competed in the JHL but defending champions Malacca
Municipal Council are not fielding a team this year.
Meanwhile, Olak have promised Kuala Lumpur World Cup souvenirs for the
first 100 Under-12 fans who turn out to watch their opening match against
Ipoh Municipal Council at the Pandamaran Stadium in Klang today.
Teams - Pool A: Armed Forces Apprentice Training School, Sultan Abu
Bakar College, Malay Mail, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Yayasan Negri Sembilan,
Penang Indians Sports Club, Ipoh Municipal Council, Krian Hockey
Association, Perak Malays Hockey Association, Petaling Jaya Municipal
Council, Olak.
Pool B: Johor Sports Council, MSSKL, Malaysian Sports School, SMK Datuk
Taha, Pahang Telekom, Seberang Prai Municipal Council, Taiping Hockey
Association, SMK Anderson, Synergy Hockey Club, Serdang Hockey Club,
Terengganu Sports Council.
Fixtures - Today: Yayasan Negri Sembilan v Penang Indians Sports Club
(5.15pm, Seremban II Stadium); Sultan Abu Bakar College v Krian Hockey
Association (5.15pm, Johor Hockey Stadium); Olak-MPK v Ipoh Municipal
Council (5.30pm, Pandamaran Stadium); Perak Malays Hockey Association v
Tenaga Nasional (5.30pm Azlan Shah Stadium); Petaling Jaya Municipal
Council v Armed Forces Apprentice Training School (5.30pm, Tun Razak
Stadium).
(END)