Sunday, September 16, 2007

Malacca MC out to clinch Division Two title

02/04/2003

THE MHF-Milo-Admiral-NSC Junior Hockey League resumes this weekend with
Division Two table-toppers Malacca Municipal Council (MMC) having an easy
match against Kerian in Ipoh.
Kerian are not expected to give MMC any problems, in fact, they could be
in for a thrashing. But come Sunday, MMC will not have it easy against
Sports School Juniors.
One week before the JHL break, the SS Juniors went to Bangladesh to play
in a Four-Nation tournament where they were whipped by India and
Bangladesh, but nevertheless, returned with valuable experience.
"This Sunday, we will be on a double mission. First, we will be putting
up banners promoting peace and not war around the Bukit Serindit Stadium,
and second, we aim to beat Sports School Juniors and claim the Division
Two title," said Malacca MC coach Eugene Lee.
Malacca MC and SS Juniors with 24 points each - are the only two teams
in the running for promotion. Third placed SM Datuk Taha are a distant 17
points behind.
The title race in Division One was thrown wide open when Pahang Telekom
and Tenaga Nasional drew 1-1 before the break. Now, four teams - Tenaga,
Pahang, Malaysia Sports School and Anderson-Xybase - are tied on 13 points
each after six matches.
"I gave the boys a one-week break and they only resumed training a few
days ago but everyone is in great shape. I still stand by my target of
being the Division Two champions and then taking a crack at the Overall
title itself," said Eugene.
MMC, the Overall title winners in 2001, did not compete last year
because of cash-related problems and were placed in Division Two. This
year they have enough firepower to achieve their targets.
The former Anderson players recruited by MMC to strengthen their quest,
goalkeeper Nazrul Azim, Faizal Ani, Hanif Hamzah, Faizal Bakar, Nazrin
Naserruddin and Mohamed Nor Othman, have been playing to expectations and MMC are the hot favourites to top Division Two, but they will face stiff
challenges in their quest for the Overall title.
Fixtures - Friday - Div Two: Malay Mail v Penang Frees (Tun Razak
Stadium, 4pm), Kerian v Malacca Municipal Council (Azlan Shah Stadium, 5.15pm), MSS Kuala Lumpur v Datuk Taha (MBJB Stadium, 5.15pm).
Div One: Srii Aroma v Terengganu Schools Sports Council (Bercham
Stadium, 5.15pm), MPK-Olak v Malaysia Sports School (Pandamaran Stadium, 5.15pm).
Saturday - Div Two: English College v AFATS (MBJB Stadium, 3.30pm),
Sports School Juniors v Perlis Schools Sports Council (Tun Razak Stadium, 5.15pm).
Div One: Petaling Jaya MC v Telekom Pahang (National Hockey Stadium, 5.15pm), Tenaga Nasional v Anderson-Xybase (KLHA Stadium, 5.15pm), Johor Sports Council v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (MBJB Stadium, 5.15pm).
Sunday - Div Two: Perak Malays v Malay Mail (Azlan Shah Stadium, 4pm), Penang Frees v MSSKL (Bercham Stadium, 5.15pm), Malacca MC v Sports School Juniors (Bukit Serindit Stadium, 5.15pm), Kerian v Synergy HC (Azlan Shah Stadium, 6pm).
Div One: Terengganu v MPK-OLAK (Kuala Terengganu Stadium, 5.15pm).
(END)