Sabah boys shock Perak 3-1

DEFENDING champions Kuala Lumpur will face a do-or-die mission to qualify for the semi-finals when they face Sabah in the Boys’ Group A of the MHC-Milo-NSC Under-14 Hockey tournament in  Kuala Terengganu.
    Even though KL beat Sarawak 3-0 yesterday, Sabah opened the Group A standings by beating Perak 3-1.
    For the record, Perak had beaten KL 4-2 earlier in the tournament.
    “As you can see, we lost to Perak, while Sabah beat Perak. So we can’t take our last pool match for granted, and my boys will have to bring out their best to play in the semi-finals and defend out title,” said KL team manager Ali Sulaiman.
     Ali said he was not making excuses, but they lost the Perak match to weather, and a water-logged pitch.
    “We were unlucky that it rained heavily during the match, and when we played, the pitch was water-logged and my players could not move the ball well while the Perak boys looked like they were more comfortable playing on a heavy pitch.
    “Against Sabah, hopefully it does not rain again, and my players also need to make sure they dont miss sitters like in previous matches,” said Ali.
    In the Boys’ Group B, its also still an open affair with hosts Terengganu, Malacca, Johor, Selangor and Pahang still in the hunt for the two knock-out slots.
    RESULTS: Boys’ Group A: Perak 1 Sabah 3, Kuala Lumpur 3 Sarawak 0, Kedah 1 Penang 0.
   Group B: Negri x Kelantan x, Johor 2 Pahang 7, Terengganu 2  Selangor 2.
    Girls’ Group A: Terengganu 0 Malacca 1.
    Group B: Negri 6 Kelantan 0, Johor 0 Penang 6, Kedah 2  Selangor 5.
    TODAY: Boys’ Group A -- Perlis v Sarawak, Perak v Penang, Kuala Lumpur v Sabah.
    Group B: Malacca v Pahang, Negri v Selangor, Johor v Kelantan.
     Girls’ Group A: Terengganu v Kuala Lumpur, Malacca v Sarawak.
   Group B: Kelantan v Johor, Kedah v Penang, Selangor v Negri.

Hope in Under-14...

MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) coaching di rector Tai Beng Hai is impressed with the standard of play in  the ongoing MHC-Milo-NSC Under-14 Hockey tournament in  Kuala Terengganu.
    He sees a number of talent which could be groomed into  better players.
    “In the beginning there was too much of rain and the pitch  was heavy so I could not really see individual talent in the  state sides, but the last two days the pitch condition is much  better and I did spot a number of players who are future  potentials,” said Beng Hai who is in Kuala Terengganu.
    He is also impressed with the way the Pahang boys are  playing in the tournament.
    “MHC president Tengku Abdullah (Sultan Ahmad Shah)  started an academy in Temerloh and Pahang has improved  tremendously in a year.
     “They beat Terengganu (a junior powerhouse) 3-1 in their  first match, and were sound in their structure, but lacked  strength and also the tactical aspect.
    “But I believe this age group tournament has teams which  are better prepared and also more talented. I will select a  pool of players from here to attend selected camps,” said  Beng Hai.
    Yesterday, Perlis shocked Penang 3-0 for their second win  of the tournament in the Boys’ Group A, and now have seven  points and are among the potential semi-finalists from the  group.
     Syukur Abu Bakar was the hat-trick hero as he scored field  goals in the 21st, 41st and 53rd minutes to beat Penang.
   And in the Boys Group B, Malacca edged Selangor 1-0 with  the winner coming from Mohamed Nur Asyraf in the 21st  minute off a penalty corner attempt.
    RESULTS --- Boys’ Group A: Penang 0 Perlis 3, Kuala  Lumpur 1 Kedah 0.
    Group B: Selangor 0 Malacca 1, Kelantan 2 Negri 0.
    Girls’ Group A: Kuala Lumpur 12 Pahang 0.
   TODAY: Boys’ Group A: Perak v Sabah, Kuala Lumpur v  Sarawak, Kedah v Penang.
   Group B: Negri v Kelantan, Johor v Pahang, Terengganu v  Selangor.
    Girls’ Group A: Terengganu v Malacca.
    Group B: Negri v Kelantan, Johor v Penang, Kedah v  Selangor.