UNIKL are poised for another giant-killing feat when they meet Maybank in the Premier Division of the TNB-Malaysia Hockey League today.
It is the only matching encounter, while leaders Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club will have a chance to pile up their goal- count as they play Armed Forces Airod.
And second placed Sapura should be able to pull it off against Nur Insafi to keep pace with KLHC.
The University side made heads turn when they held Tenaga Nasional to a 3-3 draw with a last gasp equalsier, and then they kept up their furious pace against Sapura but were unlucky to lose 1-2.
UniKL, with young legs, have speed advantage and Noor Faeez, Rashid Baharom and Ramadhan Rosli have shown tremendous improvement.
And in goal, former Maybank player Abdul Hakim has pulled off some great saves to make his side look polished.
“We hope to snatch at least a point from Maybank, and we have been training hard for it,” said UniKL manager Amir Azhar.
Maybank have a rich tradition and have been with the MHL since its debut in 1987: “ We respect them as veterans in the MHL, but we do not fear them. My boys aim to match them, as I expect a close encounter.”
Maybank coach Wallace Tan was impressed with what he saw when UniKL held TNB to a draw, and killed off their title chase
“They are a young side but can’t be taken lightly. We have to thread with caution as they are fast and their counter. But still, we are optimistic that we can win if my players play to form.”
TODAY -- Premier League: UiTM v TNB (6pm, Pitch I NHS), Maybank v UniKL (6pm, Pitch II NHS), Armed Forces Airod v KL Hockey Club (8pm, Pitch I NHS), Nur Insafi v Sapura (8pm, Pitch II NHS).
Division One: BJSS v Ipoh City Hall (Ministry of Education, 8pm), SSTMI-Thunderbolt v Uniten (8pm, Taman Daya).
SUNDAY -- Premier League Sapura v UiTM (4pm, Pitch I NHS), UniKL v Nur Insafi Penang (5pm, Pitch II NHS), YNS v Maybank (6pm, Pitch I, NHS), TNB v Armed Forces Airod (8pm, Pitch I, NHS).
Division One: Ipoh City Hall v UNIMAP (Azlan Shah Sta dium, 5pm), SSTMI-Thunderbolt v BJSS (Taman Daya, 5pm).
Premier Division
P W D L F A Pts
KL HC 4 4 0 0 20 5 12
Sapura 3 3 0 0 9 3 9
TNB 4 2 1 1 12 6 7
Nur Insafi 4 2 0 2 8 11 6
UniKL 4 1 2 1 9 9 5
Maybank 3 1 0 2 6 7 3
YNS 4 1 0 3 5 16 3
UiTM 3 0 1 2 4 10 1
Airod 3 0 0 3 4 10 0
Division One
P W D L F A Pts
T’bolt 4 3 1 0 13 9 10
BJSS 4 1 2 1 10 5 5
Ipoh CH 4 1 2 1 8 13 5
UNIMAP 4 1 1 2 7 7 4
Uniten 4 0 2 2 5 9 2