Nur Insafi pull off draw

NUR Insafi pulled off a stunning 1-1 draw against
UniKL to keep their hopes alive of playing in the
quarter-finals of the Premier Division of the
Malaysia Hockey League.
UniKL paid the prize of complacency in the third
minute when Arifin Dollah scored off a field attempt,
and the score remained till the half-time hooter.
But in the second half, Nur Insafi started
defending in numbers and let in the equaliser in the
39th minute off S. Selvaraju's effort.
In another match, Sapura lived dangerously before
beating bottom placed UiTM 2-1.
UiTM, who upset a foreign-based Nur Insafi 3-2 on
Saturday, had more than six clear chances to seal
the match but a bungling forward line saw them
lose narrowly.
Sapura were guilty of giving the university side,
who gained promotion into the Premier Division
after becoming champions in Division One last
season, too much of space, but a brace from Ahmad
Kazamirul in the 19th and 62nd minutes gave them
full points.
UiTM's Zulhafiz Ali sounded the board in the 68th
minute, and the university outfit will surely rue their
missed sitters as it could have moved them a step
closer to playing in the quarter-finals of the TNB
Cup.
"Lucky, extremely lucky," was how Sapura coach
I. Vickneswaran described his team's win.
"Yesterday (Saturday) we were lucky to beat
Yayasan Negri Sembilan (2-1) even though YNS had
more chances at goal.
"Today (yesterday) we were again lucky aginst
UiTM who could have easily sealed the match in the
first half," said Vickneswaran.
Sapura have three foreign players, but none were
available yesterday.
"Rehan Butt (Pakistan) has gone back to play for
his club, while Korean Lim (Woo Geun) is down with
groin injury.
"Our goalkeeper (David Kettle from Wales) could
not play as he is suspected to have kidney stones
and is undergoing treatment," said Vickneswaran.
UiTM coach Ahmad Tarmizy was extremely
pleased with his charges, but not the score.
"We are slowly gaining experience in the tougher
Premier Division after becoming champions in
Division One.
"I believe we could have beaten Sapura but my
players lack experience at this level. However, I am
pleased with their progress so far," said Tarmizy.
RESULTS -- Premier Division: UiTM 1 Sapura 2,
Nur Insafi 1 UniKL 1, Yayasan Negri Sembilan 2
Tenaga Nasional 4, Armed Forces-Airod 1 Maybank
3.
Division One: Bandar Penawar Sports School 3 Ipoh
City Hall 1, Malacca City Council 0 Armed Forces
Juniors 1, Universiti Sains Malaysia 2 UniTen 3.

STANDINGS

PREMIER DIVISION

P W D L F A Pt
KLHC 11 9 1 1 50 17 28
UNIKL 12 7 3 2 21 16 24
TNB 11 7 1 3 25 14 22
YNS 12 7 0 5 38 28 21
SAPURA 11 7 0 4 31 21 21
NUR INSAFI 12 4 2 6 21 33 14
MAYBANK 11 2 3 6 12 18 9
ATM 12 2 0 10 12 37 6
UITM 12 2 0 10 18 43 6

DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
ATM JNR 8 7 1 0 21 4 22
BPSS 7 5 0 2 15 11 15
BJSS 7 4 0 3 15 8 12
IPOH CH 9 3 2 4 15 19 11
MALACCA CC 8 3 0 5 10 10 9
USM 8 2 0 6 11 25 6
UNITEN 7 1 1 5 6 16 4