Sports Schools' showdown

BUKIT Jalil and Bandar Penawar Sports Schools will renew their rivalry when they clash in Division One of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.

BJSS clinched the double in Division Two of the MHL, while BPSS played bridesmaid on both occasions. Eleven teams were supposed to be on the starting block, but Border Rangers Club have pulled out forcing the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) to redraw the fixtures.
"Border Rangers did not give a reason for their withdrawal and we were caught in a bind as we had already prepared the fixtures. So now, 10 teams will compete in Division One, and the champion will be promoted to the Premier League which starts in October," said MHF assistant secretary N. Krishnan.
Division One will have BJSS, BPSS, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (Unimap), UiTM, Ipoh City Council, Malacca City Council, Dolphins, Air Force, ATM Airod and ATM Juniors.
BJSS, despite featuring a fourth time in the senior league, have not set any targets. "We will field 13 Under-16 boys so they will be better prepared when we play in next year's Under-19 MHL," said BJSS coach S. Prakash.
And BJSS are prepared for the worst against BPSS in the curtain raiser. "We did not have much training after the Under-19 tournament as the boys were busy with exams. So, I expect a tough time as BPSS would be out to avenge their defeat in the Overall final," Prakash added.
FIXTURES -- Today: Bukit Jalil Sports School v Bandar Penawar Sports School (National Stadium Pitch II, 3pm), Malacca City Council v Dolphins (Malacca Stadium, 5pm), Armed Forces Juniors v UNIMAP (Tun Razak Stadium, 5pm), Armed Forces Airod v Air Force (Tun Razak Stadium, 7pm).