Olak out of JHL after 15 straight years

OLD La Sallians Association of Klang (OLAK), a permanent fixture in the Junior Hockey League since 1995, have been bundled out after 15 years due to financial constrains.
The Klang-based side has a colourful history, and its manager Joseph de Silva has seen them through thick-and- then, but the coffers finally dried up.
“It is a sad day for our club, as we have never missed a single JHL season since its debut in 1995.
“And we did face many problems over the years, but our sponsors kept us afloat. However, the coast of fielding a team in the JHL keeps going higher and higher over the years, and the club can no longer carry the burden, financially,” said Joseph.
Olak were the League champions in 1997, and the fol lowing year, they won the double. The feat was repeated in 1999, while their last Overall title was won in 2000.
And some of the national players he club nurtured are still in active duty like Madzli Ikmar and Amain Rahim, the best penalty corner flicker in the country today.
Madzli wore the skipper’s armband during the New Zealand World Cup Qualifiers last November.
Meanwhile, The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) have received 16 entries for the JHL which will start on April 9.
Last year 23 teams competed, with 13 in Division One and 10 in Division Two.
UniKL, Sabah Hockey Association, SMK Teknik Klang and SMK Pengkalan Permatang of Selangor will be making their debut this season.
The other confirmed teams are double champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), BJSS Juniors, Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS), BPSS Juniors, Anderson, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Matri Perlis, SMK Datuk Taha, Kuantan Sports Council, Johor Sports Council, Tunku Besar School and Ipoh City Council.
Entries close today, and the MHF expect more teams to register.