Friday, February 21, 2014

Olak back in Division One...

OLD LA Sallians Association of Klang (Olak-PKT) came back from the dead to hold Bukit Jalil Sports School 1-1 to qualify for the Milo Cup and also assured themselves a promotion into Division One next year.
   Olak have been out in the cold in Division Two since 2009, and after beating Nur Insafi 4-1 on Thursday in Group X, they will play a waiting game to see if they also qualify for the final of the Division Two playoffs.
   Today, BJSS play Nur Insafi and the sports school needs to beat Nur Insafi by four  clear goals to play against the champions of the Group Y playoffs.
   BJSS drew first blood in the 20th minute when Abdul Syafiq scored a field goal, but Olak-PKT drew level
when Shafieq Dzulkifly slammed home from close range in the 65th minute.
   "We lacked maturity to hold onto the early lead, and will have to play much better than today (yesterday) if we want to play in the finals of the playoffs. We also need to beat Nur Insafi so that we can advance to Division One next year," said BJSS coach S. Prakash.
   Six teams from Division Two were divided into Group X and Y, and the champions in the round robbin qualify for the final on Sunday, while the top-two advance into the Milo Cup quarter-finals, and also move into Division One next year.
   Olak-PKT team manager Joseph de Silva feels they were denied a penalty stroke: "We should have been awarded a penalty stroke but were denied. However, I am still happy that we will now play in Division One next year."
    And on the waiting game: "It is out of our hands, and we can only watch from the sidelines and hope BJSS do not score four clear goals so that we can play in the final on Sunday," said de Silva.
    BJSS played their first playoff match yesterday, while it was Olak's second consecutive match and the former champions looked lost and tired in the first half. However, a few determined runs by individuals in the last 10 minutes of the match won them the draw.
    RESULTS: Olak-PKT 1 BJSS 1, Bakat MSSK x Politeknik KPM x.
   TODAY: BJSS v Nur Insafi (5pm, National Stadium, II), Politeknik-KPM v MSP-Pahang (7pm, National Stadium, II).

Easy for Olak..

OLD La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak-PKT) beat Nur Insafi of Penang 4-1 for a comfortable win in the Division Two Junior Hockey League playoffs at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil Thursday.
   And in another match yesterday, MSP Pahang beat Bakat MSSK 3-2.
   Six teams from Division Two are involved in the round-robbin playoffs, where four will advance to the quarterfinals against Division One sides SSTMI Thunderbolts, UniKL Young Guns, Petaling Jaya Municipal Council and Malacca High School.
   Yesterday, Division Two top-scorer Mawardi Hamirin was the toast for Olak-PKT, as he assisted in the first goal, and then helped himself to two more goals to bring his tally to 12 goals.
   The 18-year-old Mawardi from Sabah has a knack of making the right passes in the semi-circle, and looks set be be among the names which 2016 Junior World Cup coach Arul Selvaraj will name next week in his training squad.
   Yesterday, the Olak-PKT goals were scored by V. Dilip (11th), Noor Khairul Azri (14th), Mawardi (20th, 40th). The Nur Insafi consolation was scored by Abdul Muhaimin in the 59th minute.
   "I expected a win, but not such a high margin as Nur Insafi are the Group A champions. Credit is also due to my players, as they never let up the pressure from the start," said Olak team manager Joseph de Silva.
   Olak-Pkt will next play Bukit Jalil Sports School today at the same venue.
   "Our top-scorer Mawardi should turn out to be an asset to the country in the near future, and I would  not be surprised if he makes his name in the 2016 Junior World Cup," said Joseph.
    On Bukit Jalil today, Joseph feels it will be a tougher match: "But we are ready for them, as our aim is to play in Division One next year."
    Nur Insafi were a jaded side, and only came alive in the last 10 minutes of the match, but it was too late to salvage the game.
   FRIDAY: Olak-PKT v BJSS (5pm), Bakat MSSK v Politeknik KPM (5pm). Both matches at the National Hockey Stadium Pitch II.