AFTER seven years, the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League will see a new Division One champion emerge at the Kuala Lumpur HA Stadium today.Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), who have been dominating the JHL since 2003, will end third irrespective of how they fare against the Malaysian women’s hockey team (MWHA) in their final pool match today.
The title toss this season will be between newcomers UniKL and Bandar Penawar Sports School-Thunderbolt.
And both teams have vital cogs to depend on for the goals, as Thunderbolt’s Faizal Saari and UniKL’s Sabri Mohamed (pic) have scored 13 goals each in the JHL.
Faizal also has the advantage of having played and scored goals at the World Cup qualifier last year, and the recent Azlan Shah Cup.
The interesting fact about the goal-machines is that Faizal is a striker who is also deadly during penalty corners, while Sabri is a defender who converts through penalty corners. Sabri will have to work extra hard to stop Faizal, and then score when his mates win penalty corners.
UniKL coach I. Vickneswaran believes the encounter will be played at a punishing paced from the first whistle.
“We are the new kids in JHL, and I am proud of my boys who are within touching distance of the Division One title.
“It will not be easy, as my defenders will have be be extra careful as Faizal was in super form in the Azlan Shah Cup, and has experience scoring playing in a highly charged atmosphere,” said Vickneswaran.
Thunderbolt coach Wan Roslan Rahman said: “We have the players, and with a right attitude in this crucial match, I believe my boys will not disappoint our fans.”
The quarter-finalists have been decided and they are Thunderbolt, UniKL, BJSS, Petaling Jaya City Council and BPSS Juniors from Division One while from Division Two, the teams are Sabah, Pahang and Ipoh CC.
The knockout stage will begin on Tuesday, and the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) have done away with the initial plan to play home-and-away because of the Malaysia Games.
The knockout stage will be held for six days from May 25- 30. The quarter-finals will be played on May 25, the semi- finals on May 27 and the final on May 30.
TODAY: Division One -- Bukit Jalil Sports School v MWHA (Tun Razak Stadium, 5pm), UniKL v Thunderbolt (KLHA Stadium, 5pm); Division Two: Ipoh City Council v Pahang (Azlan Shah Stadium, 5pm), Datuk Taha v Penang Frees (Tampin, 5pm).
SUNDAY: Division Two: Sabah v Penang Frees (Pandama ran, 5pm).
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
THUNDERBOLT 7 7 0 0 36 5 21
UNIKL 7 6 1 0 32 7 19
BJSS 7 4 2 1 19 6 14
PJCC 8 4 1 3 20 15 13
BPSS JUNIORS 8 3 1 4 12 16 10
ANDERSON 8 3 1 4 14 28 10
KELANTAN 8 1 3 4 11 34 6
BJSS JUNIORS 8 1 1 6 5 25 4
MWHA 7 0 0 7 7 20 0
DIVISION TWO
P W D L F A Pts
SABAH 7 6 0 1 32 7 18
PAHANG 7 6 0 1 30 12 18
IPOH CC 7 5 2 0 22 5 17
TUNKU BESAR 8 4 2 2 23 11 14
MATRI 8 3 1 4 14 14 10
FREES 6 2 2 2 15 14 8
DATUK TAHA 7 1 1 5 9 26 4
SELANGOR 8 1 0 7 6 45 3
JOHOR 8 0 2 6 12 29 2
