Star-less Olak back in action

17/01/2003

OLD La Sallians Association of Klang (OLAK) is the only team that has
played in every Junior Hockey League (JHL) since its inception in 1995 and have frequently turned novices into national stars.
This year is no different as Olak, with their main sponsors Klang
Municipal Council, will be fielding a team with no stars hoping their
players will shine and be noticed by the national selectors by the end of
the JHL.
"We have always believed in exposing youth to hockey and this year is no
different as we have 20 boys who have yet to be noticed. OLAK-MPK hope some of them will find their way into the national juniors," said Olak-MPK assistant manager Joseph de Silva.
Amin Rahim, P. Prabahkaran, Madzli Imkar and Redzuan Ponirin are some of the players who graduated into the national squad after making their debuts with Olak.
Olak-MPK have an interesting name on their team list this season - Eric
Koh Kim Lai.
Chinese players have been missing from hockey over the past decade, with only one - Chua Boon Huat - making the national team.
Last year, even though there were 22 teams in the JHL, there was only
one Chinese player, who played for Synergy Hockey Club.
"Eric has been shaping up well in training and coach (I.) Vikneswaran is
satisfied with his progress. Eric has the basic skills. Polished properly,
he should turn into national material," said de Silva.
Playing in Division One this year, Olak will strive to make the quarter-
finals.
"We have enough firepower to reach at least the quarter-finals this
year," he added.
Former national player Vikneswaran is coaching the squad and the
consultant coach is C. Paramalingam.
"We have retained seven players from last year's squad, and have
`rescued' four players from Malacca High School after they failed to put
up a team as planned.
The squad: Adiem Nuri, Edwin Sebastian, Wan Mohamed Syahmi, K. Kanan, M. Indran, Khairil Hisham, R. Arputharaj, Nur Zamahuri, Zamzuhairi Wahab, Khairul Fitri, R. Dev Raj, Yazid Ahmad, S. Lingkesweren, Azman Sharef, Rizal Mustafa, Azrul Hairi, B. Namasivayam, Saifulnizam Noorzaha, Ridzuan Ahmad, Eric Koh Kim Lai.
Manager: Mohamed Sharif Yusof; Asst manager: Joseph de Silva; Coach: I. Vikneswaran.
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