Sunday, March 9, 2014

Thunderbolts achieve dream hat-trick...

SSTMI Thunderbolts achieved their dream of a third straight Junior Hockey League double when they beat UniKL Young Guns 2-0 in the Milo Cup final at the Natioanal Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
    The former Bandar Penawar Sports School, now under a new name, won the double in 2012, 2013 and wrapped it up this season again.
    Thunderbolts coach Wan Roslan Wan Rahman was elated with the achievement: "This is a hostoric moment for the school as we won the double yet again. However, it was not an easy win and credit also to UniKL players who put up a good fight."
    Wan Roslan also credited their sponsors TNB, for their support which has seen them grow in strength every season.
   "We could not have achieved this feat if not for our sponsors TNB, who helped us financially and also with coaching staff," said Wan Roslan.
    For UniKL, this was the fifth final which they played bridesmaid to Thunderbolts.
    "Another heartbreak for the club, even though my players gave their best but lost out in penalty corner defense. We did have our chances, but could not tuck them in," said UniKL coach Rodhanizam Radzi.
    UniKL Young Guns had the lions' share in the first half, and even won three penalty corners, but wasted all the sitters that came their way.
   The University side looked determined to score an early goal, but were denied on numerous occassions by Thunderbolts goalkeeper Fahmi Azaharuddin, who has a super game yesterday.
   The Johor Sports School even survived playing with 10 men in the opening stages of the second half when Mohd Najib Hassan was sent to the sin bin, as UniKL failed to take advantage on the numerical difference.
   Thunderbolts soaked in all the pressure and in one of the rare attacks, won their third penalty corner in the 34th minute and this time, Aminuddin Zain nailed the lead just before entering the dressing room for refreshments after playing under unbearable heat even though it was cloudy.
   After the restart, Thunderbolts started to play better hockey and nailed the second goal in the 57th minute, off another penalty corner attempt by Najmi Farizal.
   Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya City Council (PKCC) edged Olak-PKT 1-0 to lift the Milo Cup bronze medal. The PJCC hero was Nur Amin Zulkipli who scored off a third minute penalty corner.
   Olak tried their best to make a comeback, but ended fourth and collected RM10,000 while PJCC received RM12,000 for the bronze effort.
   ROLL OF HONOUR -- Fairplay: SM Datuk Taha (RM4,000); Man-of-the-Final: Fahmi Azaharuddin, Thunderbolts goalkeeper (RM1,500); Best Goalkeeper: Ridzwan Azmi (Politeknik-PKT, RM1,500); Top-Scorer: Aminuddin Mohd Zain, 18 goals (Thunderbolts, RM1,500); Most Promosing Player (Chua Boon Huat Trophy): Nor Shafiq Sumantri (UniKL, RM1,500).

Milo Cup

Champion: SSTMI Thunderbolts (RM25,000)
Runner Up: UniKL Young Guns (RM15,000)
Third: Petaling Jaya City Council (RM12,000)
Fourth: Olak-PKT (RM10,000)

League

Champions: SSTMI Thunderbolts (RM15,000)
Runner Up: UniKL Young Guns (RM10,000)
Third: Petaling Jaya City Council ( RM8,000)
Fourth: Malacca High School (RM7,000)
   RESULTS: Final -- UniKL Young Guns 0 SSTMI Thunderbolts 2; Third-Fourth: Olak-PKT 0 Petaling Jaya City Council 1.