Perak hunting for gold

DIVISION One leaders Perak want to improve on the fifth placing achieved last season, as coach Manjit Singh believe they are better prepared for the 48th Edition of the Razak Cup in Kuantan.
And with nine points after three matches, Perak are the team to beat for the title this year.
"I am looking at another six points which should take us into the final, and then take it from there. My team is better prepared this season, and should be able to achieve their target before the last match," said Manjit Singh.
Perak next play Armed Forces on Tuesday, and then Penang on Wednesday. Six points from the two matches should see them through to the final, with one match against Kuala Lumpur, on Friday, in hand.
"Most of the teams are well prepared this year, and we must win the next two matchs so that the pressure will be leas when we play our last match against Kuala Lumpur."
Manjit left Kuantan for KL yesterday because the national under-16 team checked into camp, and he is one of their coaches.
"I will travel up and down, training the under-16 and also the Perak players, but if my team plays in the final, I will not be available as I have to be with the under-16 players in KL," said Manjit.
The seasoned coach believes the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) did the right thing when they mad eit mandatory for each team to have four under-21 players, while two must be on the pitch at any given time.
"My young players are from the Project 2013 squad and all four have been carrying their weight well so far.
"In fact, against Johor, I had all four palyers on the pitch for long periods, and they delivered. But some of the team are struggling because their young players are slow to adapt.
"However, this rule should be maintained in the Razak Cup, as it will expose a big numer of youth at a young age," said Manjit.
Kuala Lumpur are one step behind Perak, after they dropped points in the 1-1 draw against Johor but they have the depth to pull through in their remaining matches.
MONDAY: Division One -- Armed Forces v Malacca (3pm), Penang v Johor (5pm), Negri v Kuala Lumpur (7pm); Division Two: Police v Kedah (3pm), Sabah v Singapore (5pm).
All matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Stadium.

Johor hold KL 1-1

JOHOR made a strong second half comeback to hold Kuala Lumpur to a 1-1 draw in Division One of the Razak Cup in Kuantan yesterday.
KL took the lead off Tajol Rosli in the 15th minute, but a penalty corner attempt from Baljit Singh Sarjab in the 68th minute gave Johor half the spoils.
KL coach Nor Saiful Zaini sees this hiccup as a wake-up call for his players.
"The players were made to understand today (yesterday) that they are not the champions in this tournament, and unlike the past, it is not going to be a walk in the park into the final," said Nor Saiful, as KL have 19 Razak Cup titles under their belt.
"We had plenty of chances in the first half, and a total of six penalty corners, but failed to score the second goal which we went looking for in the second half.
"Instead, we had to share points because Johor dug deep and relied on counter attacks, while our forwards were blunt," said Nor Saiful.
Johor coach Gurmit Singh lamented the fact that they could have walked away with full points,
"There was total commitment from my players and we had the match in hand in the secon half as KL players looked tired after pressing hard in the first half.
"However, I am still happy that we stole the thunder from KL, and I am looking forward to a better fnish than last year (Johor were fourth)," said Gurmit.

RESULTS: Division One -- Kuala Lumpur 1 Johor 1, Armed Forces 2 Penang 3, Malacca 0 Perak 2; Division Two: Group B: Terengganu 3 Pahang 5, Selangor 7 Brunei 0.
TODAY: Rest Day
TOMORROW: Division One -- Armed Forces v Malacca (3pm), Penang v Johor (5pm), Negri v Kuala Lumpur (7pm); Division Two: Police v Kedah (3pm), Sabah v Singapore (5pm).
All matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Stadium.

Johor lack fitness to challenge KL

JOHOR were frank enough to admit that they do not have the players to stop Kuala Lumpur’s advance in Division One of the Razak Cup at the Kuantan Stadium today.
Both the teams clashed for the bronze medal last year, with Johor coming our battered and bruised when they lost 6-3.
“We have some good players in our team, but fitness is not on our side as we did not have enough time to train for this tournament,” said Johor team manager Sarjit Singh.
Johor have two penalty corner flickers in their outfit, but both of them, according to Sarjit, are a little rusty.
“Baljit (Singh) and Nor Hafiq (Gaffar) have yet to get their act together after two matches, while KL’s Amin Rahim is in top form.
“I believe KL would go the distance this year, as they have a good penalty corner flicker in Amin,” said Sarjit.
Johor, even though with a hastily assembled a team, feel they are good enough to play for the bronze again.
“So far, the beat teams are KL and Perak, who I predict will play in the final. As for Johor, we aim to play in the bronze play-off,” said Sarjit.
Meanwhile, the Fifth Datuk Dr S.S Cheema veterans hockey tournament will be held at the Kelab Aman grounds today.
Eight teams have confirmed for the tournament, which is for those who are 40 and above.
Kelab Aman are the defending champions while the others who will be gunning for the title are Ipoh Lads, Mugs, Talisman, Thirty-Fifty Ipoh, Penang Sports Club, Air Force Veterans, Negri Sembilan Sikh Union.
RESULTS: Division Two: Selangor 3 Perlis 1, Sabah 2 Kelantan 3, Singapore x Kedah x.
TODAY: Division One -- Kuala Lumpur v Johor (3pm), Armed Forces v Penang (5pm), Malacca v Perak (7pm); Division Two: Terengganu v Pahang (3pm), Selangor v Brunei (5pm).
SUNDAY: Rest Day
MONDAY: Division One -- Armed Forces v Malacca (3pm), Penang v Johor (5pm), Negri v Kuala Lumpur (7pm); Division Two: Police v Kedah (3pm), Sabah v Singapore (5pm).
All matches at Pitch I and II of the Kuantan Stadium.

STANDINGS

DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
K LUMPUR 2 2 0 0 8 1 6
PERAK 2 2 0 0 5 1 6
JOHOR 2 1 0 1 3 4 3
N SEMBILAN 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
MALACCA 2 0 1 1 0 2 1
FORCES 1 0 0 1 2 3 0
PENANG 1 0 0 1 1 6 0


DIVISION TWO

GROUP A

P W D L F A Pts
KELANTAN 2 2 0 0 6 3 6
SINGAPORE 1 1 0 0 4 1 3
SABAH 1 0 0 1 2 3 0
KEDAH 1 0 0 1 1 3 0
POLICE 1 0 0 1 1 4 0

GROUP B

P W D L F A Pts
PAHANG 1 1 0 0 9 0 3
SELANGOR 1 1 0 0 3 1 3
PERLIS 1 0 0 1 1 3 0
BRUNEI 1 0 0 1 0 9 0
TERENGGANU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Johor Baru District HA calling for entries

THE Johor Baru District HA are calling for entries for their Close League tournament which is scheduled to start in the first week of April.
The league matches will be played during weekends at the MBJB Hockey Stadiums in Jalan Tebrau and in Taman Daya.
So far nine teams have confirmed their entries and they are JB Harimau, Johor Police, Johor Sikhs Sports Club, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar, Combined Banks, JB Teachers, Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Perling and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Gudang.
Entries close on March 31 and teams interested to compete in the league can contact secretary Harbhajan Singh at 07- 2211377/07-2219377 or e-mail sssssb66@yahoo.com

Datuk Dr S.S. Cheema veterans tournament

THE FIFTH Datuk Dr S.S Cheema veterans hockey tour nament will be held at the Kelab Aman grounds today (27-03-10).
Eight teams have confirmed for the tournament, which is for those who are 40 and above.
Kelab Aman are the defending champions while the others who will be gunning for the title are Ipoh Lads, Mugs, Talisman, Thirty-Fifty Ipoh, Penang Sports Club, Air Force Veterans, Negri Sembilan Sikh Union.