Slow start to season

06/06/2003

THE Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) got off to a slow start last week as the
early favourites have yet to show their true potential.
But today at the Tun Razak Stadium, an explosive battle is on the cards
when overall champions Bank Simpanan Nasional host highly-touted Sapura.
BSN did not display their true colours in their 5-0 demolition of Ipoh
City Hall, while Sapura blew a 3-0 lead to end up sharing points with
Tenaga Nasional last weekend.
So, both teams will be out to prove a point.
"We did not play at our best in the first match against Ipoh because the
boys were still adjusting to each other. Also, we did not have our sweeper
for the match," said BSN coach C. Paramalingam.
But today, sweeper Megat Azrafiq will be back as he has been certified
fit to play, albeit with his right knee heavily strapped.
Megat, who picked up the injury during the recent playing Tour of
Europe, will be looked upon to deliver the passes and flicks which could
crack Sapura's defence.
BSN played Sapura in a friendly before the start of the MHL and the
players were on hand to watch the Sapura-Tenaga match to scout for chinks.
The bankers foreign import, Pakistani Syed Imran Ali Warsi, made a
convincing debut by flicking home two penalty corner goals and it will be
a battle between him and national skipper S. Kuhan.
Kuhan has scored five penalty corner goals in two matches for Sapura,
and it is highly likely that his form, or Imran's, will determine the
outcome of the match today.
Fixtures - Today: Ipoh City Hall v Ernst & Young (Azlan Shah Stadium,
5.15pm); Pahang Sports Council v Customs (Kuantan Stadium, 5.15pm); Bank
Simpanan Nasional v Sapura (Tun Razak Satdium, 6pm); RMR v Tenaga (Tun
Razak Stadium, 8pm).
Tomorrow: Srii Aroma v Navy Dolphins (Bertam Stadium, 5.15pm); Maybank v
RMR (Tun Razak Stadium, 5.15pm); Johor Baru MC v Pahang SC (JB Stadium,
5.15pm).
Sunday: Maybank v Customs (Tun Razak Stadium, 5.15pm); Sapura v Ipoh
City Hall (Pantai Stadium, 6pm); Tenaga v Ernst & Young (Pantai Stadium,
8pm).
Monday: Johor Baru MC v BSN (JB Stadium, 5.15pm).
(END)