MSS hope history repeats itself

09/05/2003

MALAYSIA Sports School have the distinction of having beaten Tenaga
Nasional three times over the past 12 months, but they know better than to
bank on dusty archives this Sunday at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit
Jalil.
Malaysia SS dented Tenaga's hopes when they beat them in both legs of
the JHL semi-finals last year. And in the opening encounter of the League
this season, Tenaga were humbled 2-1.
Coach Tai Beng Hai kept his feet firmly on the ground when he said it
will be an explosive affair, with little separating the two teams.
"We beat them in our first JHL match when Tenaga were still in the
process of team re-building, but their players have come a long way since
and my boys will have their hands full on Sunday," said Tai.
Tenaga team officials, as well as their ardent fans, thought their team
were in for a thrashing in the JHL when their hopefuls S. Selvaraju,
Kelvinder Singh, Abbas Nekmat and the rest of the 16 players displayed
pathetic form in their opening match against Malaysis SS.
But the boys grew in confidence with every match, and reached the final
in style.
Tenaga are swift in counter-attacks, and this is where Malaysia SS will
depend heavily on defender Mohamed Shamsul Abdul Aziz and goalkeeper Ahmad
Bazli Razali.
Ahmad Bazli saved two Tenaga penalty strokes in the semi-finals first
leg last year, and robbed Tenaga with a sterling display in the second. He
was also instrumental in helping his team beat Tenaga 2-1 in the League
this year.
Tai knew from the start that he could depend on Bazli, but he is
pleasently surprised with Shamsul's rising form.
"He has always been in the shadows but in this JHL, he has shown
maturity and can always be depended upon to keep a cool head."
The Malaysia SS player who will be heavily marked on Sunday is Tengku
Ahmad Tajuddin. The skilful striker has scored eight goals and helped
create many others to take Malaysia SS to final.
He scored the winner aganist Tenaga in the League encounter, and will be
the player to watch in the final.
"None of my players are carrying injuries and that is the only plus
point we have. I have not prepared anything special for the final because
I do not want to disrupt their pattern of play."
Malaysia SS are at their best when they play attacking hockey, and it
will be wise if they continue that style instead of adopting a defensive
strategy againt a highly charged Tenaga.
Malaysia Sports School: Ahmad Bazli Razali (gk), Zaidi Zainuddin, S.
Yogeswaran, Mohamed Shamsul Abdul Azis, Mohamed Nor Affazly Abdul Ghafar,
Mohamed Fikri Bassar, Mohamed Fauzi Abdul Rahim, Mohamed Shukri Abdul
Mutalib, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Mohamed Amerullah Abdul Aziz, Mohamed Noor
Wahi Ismail, Zainur Lizam zainal, Hafriz Aliff Mohamed Zaid, Mohamed Al-
Qawi Haqq, Amir Hamzah Ahmad, Che Mohamed Nasai Ramli (gk), V.
Suntharesan, Ahmad Lutfi Hamsi, Nor Azlan Mohamed Din.
Team manager: Suhaimi Sun Abdullah; Coach: Tai Beng Hai.
(END)