Make-or-break for UniKL

KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) are almost a sure bet to lift the League title today, but the second spot in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League is still a toss between three teams.
And UniKL, last season’s wooden spoonists, will have the steepest climb to finish second as they face Charity Shield champions Tenaga Nasional, and then Sapura is what could be a make-or-break weekend for the University side.
Tenaga Nasional, in second spot now, have the easiest passage as if they beat UniKl, they only have to beat bottom of the table UiTM to claim the spot.
As for KLHC, they are poised to win their sixth League title when they play Nur Insafi today. Four of the titles were won under the Ernst & Young banner, while the recent two were under KLHC.
UniKL manager Amir Azhar was modest about his pre dictions, even though his side beat TNB and Sapura by 2-1 scores in the first leg.
“Going by the first leg results, we should be the favourites as we beat both the teams. However, I believe it would be difficult to repeat both the feats as we have lost two influential players, while another is injured,” said Amir.
UniKL will still not have the services of their top scorer Richard Patherick who scored eight, and goalkeeper Stephen Michael as both are still playing with the New Zealand national team.
“We will be playing our fifth and sixth match without them as they had to return to New Zealand and join the national team. Although their presence was sorely felt, we did not lose any matches since.
“Also out hat-trick star (Phillip Stahr), who scored three against Yayasan Negri Sembilan in our 3-2 win, received a nasty knock in the game and needed six stitches on his cheeks.
“He will be playing, but it would be difficult to be his usual self,” said Amir.
And with Khairil Anuar sitting on the bench for picking up demerit points, UniKL will have their backs against the wall this weekend.
PREMIER DIVISION: FRIDAY -- UiTM v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (3.30pm), Nur Insafi v Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (5.15pm), UniKL v Tenaga Nasional (7pm), Sapura v May bank (8.45pm).
Saturday: Nur Insafi v Maybank (4pm), UiTM v Tenaga Nasional (6pm), Armed Forces-Airod v Kuala Lumpur Hock ey Club (8pm), UniKL v Sapura (KLHA, 6.30pm).
*All other matches at the Tun Razak Stadium.
DIVISION ONE: Friday -- Malacca CC v Ipoh City Hall (Malacca, 5pm), Universiti Sains Malaysia v Bukit Jalil Sports School (USM, 5pm), UniTen v Bandar Penawar Sports School (KLHA Stadium, 5pm).
Sunday: Malacca CC v Bukit Jalil Sports School (Malacca, 5pm), Universiti Sains Malaysia v Bandar Penawar Sports School (USM, 5pm), UniTen v Armed Forces Juniors (KLHA, 5pm).
Feb 25: Bukit Jalil Sports School v UniTen (Ministry of Education Stadium, 5pm), Armed Forces Juniors v Bandar Penawar Sports School (Tun Razak Stadium, 5pm).

PREMIER DIVISION
P W D L F A Pt
KLHC 13 11 1 1 60 19 34
TNB 13 9 1 3 37 16 28
UNIKL 13 8 3 2 24 18 27
SAPURA 13 8 0 5 35 26 24
YNS 14 7 0 7 42 38 21
NUR INSAFI 14 4 2 8 26 42 14
MAYBANK 13 3 3 7 14 20 12
ATM 14 3 0 11 17 50 9
UITM 13 2 0 11 18 44 6

DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
ATM JNR 10 9 1 0 27 7 28
BPSS 9 5 0 4 16 15 15
MALACCA CC 10 5 0 5 14 12 15
IPOH CH 11 4 2 5 18 23 14
BJSS 9 4 1 4 19 13 13
USM 10 3 0 7 16 28 9
UNITEN 9 1 2 6 9 21 5