TEN teams will battle for honour in Division One of the Junior Hockey League (JHL) from today, with UniKL the front-runners for a clean sweep of titles.IN Division Two, which has 14 teams in two groups, there are no clear favourites.
Last season, UniKL finished second behind Bandar Pe nawar Sports School in Division One, but lifted the Overall title when they beat BPSS in the final.
Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) were the disappointment of last season, as after winning 12 titles since 2003, they finished third in Division One and also third in the Overall battle.
BJSS, who made their debut 1995, were double champions five times in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and Division One winners twice in 2003 and 2006.
Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak), who only missed last season since making their debut in 1995, are back after sorting out their financial problems.
“We hold the distinction of having won the Division One title in 1997 and were double champions in 1998 and 1999. We also won the overall title in 2000, but could not compete last season due to financial constraints and will now play in Division Two,” said Olak manager Joseph de Silva.
PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd’s managing director Datuk Michael B.Y. Tio chipped in with RM50,000 in cash and kind to help the team make a return.
Coached by Paul Raj, Olak are determined to claw back into Division One this year.
Olak also hold the distinction of being the home of current National No 1 penalty corner flicker Amin Rahim to kick- start his career in the sport.
This season, they will rely on Section 11 Secondary School in Shah Alam, which is a project school for hockey, for players while four players from other states have also been roped in to strengthen the side.
DIVISION ONE -- Bukit Jalil Sports School, Bandar Pe nawar SS-Thunderbolt, UniKL, Petaling Jaya City Council, BJSS Juniors, BPSS Juniors, Kelantan, Anderson, Ipoh City Hall Juniors and Pahang.
DIVISION TWO: Group A -- Penang, Politeknik KPT (Kedah), Datuk Sheikh Ahmad (Perlis), BPSS-MWHA, Malac ca High School, Matri Perlis and Datuk Taha.
Group A: Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak), Tunku Besar Tampin, Penang Free School-MI Juniors, MSSWP- KLHC, Padang Midin (Terengganu), Johor and Perlis.
TODAY: Division One -- Bandar Penawar SS v Bukit Jalil SS Juniors (Taman Daya, 4.30pm), Bukit Jalil SS v Petaling Jaya CC (Ministry of Education, 4.30pm), Ipoh City Hall Juniors v UniKL (Azlan Shah, 4.30pm).
Division Two: Group A -- Kedah v Matri Perlis (Alor Star, 4.30pm).
Group B: Plak v Padang Midin (Tun Razak, 4.30pm), Johor v Perlis (Taman Daya Pitch II, 4.30pm).
