Kelantan start with a draw

CHAMPION Schools defending champions Hamzah Machang of
Kelantan got off on the wrong foot in Group A when they were
held 1-1 by Mutiara Impian of Penang at the Kuala Lumpur HA
Stadium yesterday.
However, Tengku Besar secondary School of Negri Sembilan
started on a high when they hammered Armed Forces Apprentice
School 8-0 in Group A.
TBSS, who have set themselves a semi-finals target, took a
2-0 lead off Saiful Akhmar (fourth) and Zainol Ashraf (35th)
before scoring six more in the second half off Zainol (46th),
Irsyaduddin (52nd, 55th, 65th), Saiful (62nd) and Syafiq
Shukor (68th). Mutiara Impian took the lead off Rashid Baharom (37th) but Hamzah Machang equalsied in the 51st minute off Mohamed
Paizol.
In a Group B match, bronze medallists Anderson of Perak
beat silver medallists Sultan Abu Bakar College 6-0 with
goals from Harris Fadila (18th), Amir Nasli (19th), Jasdev
Singh (22nd, 46th), Zainul Akmal (35th) and Soffian
Kamaruddin (60th).
"We are fielding a team whih has JHL (Junior Hockey League)
experience, and our target is to play in the semi-finals. The
big margin today (yesterday) is no reason to celebrate yet,
because we will face many strong teams in our group after
this," said TBSS coach M. Vivekananda.
And TBSS will also be involved in the Premier Schools
tournament in Kuantan a day after the Champion Schools ends.
"At least one title, is what we expecct from these boys who
will be playing in back-to-back tournaments," said
Vivekananda. All the teams in Champion Schools, except for Armed Forces and Kuala Lumpur's St Johns, will be involved in the Premier
Schools tournament.
Kuala Lumpur will be represented by
Setapak High School.
RESULTS: Group A -- Hamzah Machang (Kel) 1 Mutiara Impian
(Pg) 1, Tunku Besar Secondary School 8 Armed Forces 0; Group
B: Sultan Abu Bakar College (Joh) 0 Anderson (Pk) 6, St John
(KL) 2 Khir Johari (Ked) 5.
TODAY: Group A: Seberang Temerloh (Pah) v Hamzah Machang
(Kel) 3.30pm, Mutiara Impian (Pg) v Armed Forces (5.30pm);
Group B: Seksyen II (Sel) v Sultan Abu Bakar (Joh) 7.30am,
Khir Johari (Ked) v Anderson (PK) 9.30am.

Malaysia to play Kookaburras in final

MALAYSIA beat Canada 3-2 to qualify for the final of the Four-Nation in Canberra yesterday. The national players will square off against the mighty Kookaburras again today, and the result is difficult top predict. Malaysia lost to the Kookaburras 8-1 in a Test match prelude to the tournament, but bounced back to win the second Test 1-0.
However, in the Four-Nation, the Kookaburras hammered Malaysia 11-3.
Yesterday, 18-year-old Faizal Shaari scored a brace, while Razie Rahim score the other goal. The Canadians got their goals off Scott Tupper and Wayne Fernandes.
In another match, the Kookaburras beat Australia A 8-2.