Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Three-way title tussle..

THE NSC-Milo-MHC Junior Hockey League Division One title could go three ways when UniKL Young Guns and Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) play for keeps at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil Thursday.
  UniKL and SSTMI are tied on 15 points, while Petaling Jaya City Council are sitting pretty on 18 points. However both UniKL and SSTMI have a better goal difference than PJCC which means if either team wins today, the title is theirs.
  But if the match ends in a draw, then PJCC will be crowned the champions while watching from the stands.
  "This is a winner take-all situation, and my players are primed to give their best. A win is what we are looking for as we ended silver medallists in both the League and Overall to SSTMI last season," said UniKL coach Faiz Isa.
  And the title aspirants received a surprise visit from their Chairman, Datuk Dr Adham Baba and newly appointed President/CEO, Prof Dr Mazliham Mohd Su'ud ahead of the big battle.
  The only blemish in UniKL's run in the League was a 2-1 defeat to PJCC, while SSTMI's blot was a surprise defeat to Anderson of Ipoh 3-2.
  SSTMI coach Wan Roslan Wan Rahman also knows the score well: "Both the teams are title contenders and it would be a difficult match which will only be separated by the mistakes each side makes. However, after the shock defeat to Anderson, I believe my players have woken up from their comfort zone and are now more dangerous than when the league started."
  But if 70 minutes does not provide a winner, PJCC will win their first League title since the inception of the JHL in 1995.