HE hopes to deliver his team a title while his wife is expected to
deliver a baby at about the same time.
These are the two big moments that Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS)
coach Wan Roslan Wan Abdul Rahman looks forward to.
Wan Roslan, who aims to guide his team to the Malaysian Hockey League
(Under-19) overall title today, said though his wife is due to deliver
their fourth child, she will be at the stadium to give morale support.
"She's due to deliver anytime and it's too risky to leave her at home
in Bandar Penawar. That's why she will be at the stadium. I hope she will
be fine during the final," said Wan Roslan.
The coach believes that he has done enough to prepare his players, both
mentally and physically for the final.
"They are focused and it now boils down to how they commit themselves
to the match. It is a very important match not only to the players and me
but also the school. BPSS have never won a major league title and I hope
to end the drought tomorrow (today)," said Wan Roslan yesterday.
BPSS' only silverware was the Division Two title of the National Junior
League in 2005.
"All my players are in good condition. They also underwent two
motivational sessions to beef up their mentally strength," he said.
Based on record, BJSS, who bagged their seventh straight league title
recently, will start as favourites in the final at National Hockey
Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
However, BPSS are in confident mood, having beaten their rivals 4-1 in
the league earlier.
Wan Roslan, who has been putting his players through penalty corner
drills to polish up their set-pieces, said: "Penalty corners may prove
decisive in this final which is expected to be tight. I worked out a
number of variations and the players have responded well."
Meanwhile, BJSS coach S. Prakash said: "The players are building up
well towards the final. We are an Under-17 team and of course, in terms
of experience, our opponents look stronger.
"BPSS have four players in the national junior squad who will feature
in the final. However, I have my plans and a right tactical game will win
us the title."
BJSS received RM10,000 for winning the Division Two title. The prize
money for the overall title is RM20,000. BJSS won the overall title in
2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
FIXTURES - TODAY - Final: Bukit Jalil Sports School v Bandar Penawar
Sports School (National Stadium Pitch II, 5pm); Third-Fourth: Tenaga
Nasional v Petaling Jaya City Council (National Stadium, Pitch II, 3pm).
