UNIKL Young Guns got off their NSC-Milo_MHC Junior Hockey League Division One campaign to a super start when they beat Tengku Mahkota Ismail SS Juniors 6-2 at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday.
However, it is not the Juniors, but the SSTMI Thunderbolts side that they need to beat to claim the title. Thunderbolts have nine points after three matches over the weekend.
“It is a good score considering its our first match of the season, but it was also a jittery start, which caused us to miss out on some easy goals,” said UniKL coach K. Embaraj.
Embaraj, however, is not worried about Thunderbolts super sprint weekend by winning three matches in a row.
“For me, every match counts and I am not just planning for the Thunderbolts encounter. We need to keep on winning to be in the title chase, and worry about Thunderbolts when the time comes,” said Embaraj.
For the record, UniKL played bridesmaid to Thunderbolts in both the League and Overall title last season.
UniKL played without two of their better players Norsyafiq Sumantri and Hafif Elkan who have been selected to represent Malaysian in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival which starts on Jan 16.
The UniKL goals were scored by Meor Azuan (10th), Fitri Ismail (19th), Azrul Rahman (31st), Dzahiruddin Ilyas (33rd), Syafiz Zulzairin (48th), Wan Mohamed Hazrul (53rd).
The STMI Juniors first goal was scored by Raja Izzat raja Husin in the 36th minute while their second was an own goal by a UniKL player.
RESULTS: Division One -- Bukit Jalil SS x Petaling Jaya CC x, Tengku Mahkota Ismail SS Juniors 2 UniKL Young Guns 6, Malacca High School 3 MBI Anderson 3.
Division Two: Group A -- 1Mas Penang 4 Matri Perlis 1, MSS Perlis 1 Kedah HA Juniors 1.
Group B: Tunas Muda Pahang 0 Olak 1, Politeknik KPT 1 Kuala Lumpur Sports School 2, Datuk Taha 3 Bukit Jalil SS Juniors 0, Kuala Langat 3 Johor HA 2.