JUNIOR Hockey League Double champions Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) were better organised yesterday when they went for early goals and thrashed Malacca High School 9-0 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.
The champions have nine points from three wins in the first JHL weekend itself, and if they beat UniKL Young Guns, the Division One title is as good as theirs.
Coach Wan Roslan, dissatisfied with his skipper Shahril Saabah's performance against Bukit Jalil Sports School on Friday where they only won 1-0, ripped off his armband and gave it to Amir Zulkarnain.
And Amir repaid the coach with a second minute penalty corner goal which placed tremendous pressure on Malacca, and they cracked three more times in the first half.
The second goal was scored by Azmi Deraman in the 17th minute off a field attempt, while Shahril scored the third off a penalty corner attempt in the 13th minute.
The fourth was scored by Sufi Ismat in the 31st minute, also off a penalty corner flick, and Malacca were truly beaten.
MHS could have been in deeper trouble if not for some saves pulled off by their goalkeeper Nor Haziq Musik
And in the second half, SSTMI again tore apart the Malacca defense with goals from Zizi Azwan (40th), Ahmad Alif (55th), Shahril (59th), Hafiz Selemen (61) and Shahril (66th).
"I removed the armband from Shahril because I found out that he can't play under pressure as a skipper. His game is much better if he
is allowed to roam freely and he proved me right by scoring his first two goals of the season," said Wan Roslan.
Shahril, who was the top-scorer in the JHL last season with 20 goals, was also relieved that he finally broke the duck after three matches.
"I am relieved that I scored my first two goals of the season, but this year, I am not worried about goals but about making the grade in Project 2013 and representing the country in the Junior World Cup.
"That is my aim, and thats why I want to improve other departments of my game in the JHL this season instead of putting my self under pressure looking for the top-scorers award," said Shahril.
RESULTS: Division One -- Tengku Mahkota Ismail SS 9 Malacca High School 0, MBI Anderson 2 MSSP-USM 0.
Division Two: Group A: MSS Perlis 2 Kelantan HA 6, Kedah HA Juniors 2 Matri Perlis 0, Anderson Juniors 2 Nur Insafi 1, 1Mas Penang 3 SERATAS 0.
Group B: Padang Midin 1 Olak 4, Politeknik KPT 5 Johor HA 1, Tunas Muda Pahang 1 Datuk Taha 1, Kuala Langat 1 Tunku Besar Secondary School 0.
TODAY: Division One -- Bukit Jalil SS v Petaling Jaya CC (Bukit Jalil, 7pm), Tengku Mahkota Ismail SS Juniors v UniKL (Taman Daya, 5pm), Malacca High School v MBI Anderson (Malacca, 5pm).
Division Two: Group A -- 1Mas Penang v Matri Perlis (USM, 5pm), MSS Perlis v Kedah HA Juniors (Alor Star, 5pm).
Group B: Tunas Muda Pahang v Olak (Kuantan, 5pm), Politeknik KPT v Kuala Lumpur Sports School (Taman Daya Pitch II, 5pm), Datuk Taha v Bukit Jalil SS Juniors (Seremban II, 5pm), Kuala Langat v Johor HA (Ministry of Education, 5pm).