KLHC struggle, Tenaga cruise..

TNB Cup champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) edged Sapura 3-1 in the first leg semi-finals at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
  But in the second semi-finals, Tenaga hammered Maybank 6-2 to virtually book their final spot, making the return leg semi-finals an uphill battle for the Tigers.
  However, it was KLHC who suffered an early setback, only to bounce back just before the half-time to tie Sapura at 1-1.
  In a drab semi-finals, Sapura took the lead in the 24th minute when Joel Samuel dribbled three players and shot to the top of the roof.
  However, KLHC came back into the picture seven minutes later when Razie Rahim scored from a penalty corner attempt.
  KLHC only had two penalty corners on the 15th and 31st minutes, while Spura did not have any for the first 35 minutes.
  After the breather, Pakistan import Akhtar Ali broke the deadlock with an early field attempt in the 37th minute.
   And Chua Boon Huat gave KLHC a better cushion into the return leg on Sunday with a penalty corner deflection goal in the 55th minute to make it 3-1.
  And the score remained until the final hooter.
  "We made several errors in defense and KLHC capitalised on it, but we still have a fighting chance in the return leg.
  "We scored the early goal on the counter but then opted to defend too deep and paid the price," said Sapura manager S. Kuhan.
  "But the tie is still alive and we need to believe in our ability in order to get a positive result on Sunday. We should really have created some penalty corners as that could have helped our cause, as none came our way."
  In the other semis, the Tenaga goals were scored by Izat Hakimi (eighth), Shahril Saabah (17th, 66th), Firhan Ashaari (27th) and Faiz Helmi (55th, 63rd).
  An own goal by Tenaga, Aminuddin Zain, in the 21st minute and a field goal from Shakeel Abbasi in the 70th minute narrowed the gap for Maybank.
  RESULTS -- Semi-finals First Leg: TNB Cup -- Sapura 1 KLHC 3, Maybank 2 Tenaga 6.
   President's Cup: TNB Thunderbolts 6 Ipoh CC 3, Sunday 2030 1 UiTM 2.
   SUNDAY: Semi-finals Second Leg: TNB Cup -- Tenaga v Maybank v (6pm), KLHC v Sapura (8pm).
   President's Cup: Ipoh CC v TNB Thunderbolts (6pm), UiTM v Sunday 2030 (8pm).
  Note: All matches at Pitch I and II of National Stadium Bukit Jalil.

Under-16 dispute..

KUALAR Lumpur HA secretary V. Rajamanikam yesterday blasted the Under-16 selection for Mannheim, Germany, by calling it biased.
  The Four-Nation will be held on May 18-20, and Malaysia will be up against Belgium, Netherlands and Germany.
  "KL were the National Under-16 champions for five consecutive years before losing out in the semi-finals (2-1 to Malacca) this season. A big number of our players have been playing together since they were under-14 and had won the Under-16 title for KL in previous years.
  "That is why I am calling the Mannheim selection biased, as only one KL player was selected for the squad of 18," said Rajamanikam.
  The selected KL player is goalkeeper Suhayl Ainol Azmi.
  However, coach S. Prakash defended his selection, by saying that it was based on merit.
  "A panel of coaches selected the players based on friendly matches and also fitness, and there was no bias towards any state.
  "We had a short time to assemble the side, so the number one criteria was fitness and that is why some of the players did not make the grade," said Prakash, who is also the Bukit Jalil Sports School coach.
  In the National Under-16 Perak lifted the title.