Lame duck league hobbles on

THE TNB-Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) will hobble off today with League champions Ernst And Young squaring off against last season’s Division Two champions Penang-Nur Insafi at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
But if one compares the standard of the MHL with that of leagues run in Australia, New Zealand and Europe -- Malaysia will be akin a donkey running among race horses.
With only six teams in Division One, and nine in Division Two, it looks like either clubs are no longer interested in hockey or there is a lack of quality players to form more teams.
The National Juniors, preparing for the Junior World Cup which Malaysia and Singapore will co-host in June 7-21 next year, will also undergo a baptism of fire as they will face a torrid time against TNB-Cup champions Tenaga Nasional.
Ernst and Young, with 12 national players, are the front- runners for both the titles, while their strongest opposition is expected to come from Tenaga, who have six national players including No 1 goalkeeper S. Kumar.
The dark horses in the MHL are Nur Insafi, who have hired two Bangladeshis and seven India players to strengthen their cause. Last season, they had three India players and won the Division Two title.
In Division Two, Bukit Jalil and Bandar Penawar Sports Schools will have their work cut out, as they will be playing against teams which have many seasoned MHL players.
TODAY: Division One -- Tenaga Nasional v National Juniors (KLHA Stadium, 7pm), Ernst and Young v Nur Insafi (National Stadium, 7pm), Maybank v Sapura (Seremban II Stadium, 5pm).
Division Two: Dolphins v UiTM (Lumut, 5pm), JLJ v Bandar Penawar SS (Tun Razak Stadium, 7pm), Royal Malay Reg iment v Bukit Jalil SS (Tun Razak Stadium, 9pm), Border Forces Club v Sultan Alam Shah School (Terengganu, 5pm).