THE much anticipated clash between Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) and
Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS) in the Malaysia Hockey League
(Junior) final, scheduled for today, has been postponed to Sunday.
The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) hopes that the change will
attract the crowd, especially students of both schools, to the National
Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil for the final.
This is a good move by MHF in promoting hockey as past experiences
prove that fans stay away from stadiums on weekdays.
MHF secretary Hashim Mohd Yusoff said the change will allow students
and parents, especially those from Bandar Penawar, to make a trip to
Kuala Lumpur for the final.
"There is also a long break this weekend because Friday is a public
holiday (Labour Day). And this will encourage more crowd."
According to Hashim, both BJSS and BPSS have also applauded MHF's
decision.
"Both schools have promised to bring bus loads of supporters to the
stadium," he added.
BJSS are the most successful team in the junior league having won five
doubles and six league crowns to date.
The sport school, parading Under-17 players this season, are the hot
favourites to win Sunday's final.
FIXTURES: SUNDAY - Final: Bukit Jalil Sports School v Bandar Penawar
Sports School (National Stadium Pitch II, 5pm).
Third-Fourth: Petaling Jaya City Council v Tenaga Nasional (National
Stadium Pitch II, 3pm).
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Final postponed to Sunday
Sri Lanka out of Asia Cup
SRI Lanka have withdrawn from the Asia Cup in Kuantan on May 9-16.
Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan
Ahmad Shah said Sri Lanka did not give any official reason over their
late decision.
Sri Lanka were drawn in Group A together with hosts Malaysia, South
Korea and Japan.
MHF secretary Hashim Mohd Yusoff said the International Hockey
Federation (FIH) had informed MHF over Sri Lanka's withdrawal yesterday.
FIH also decided to move Bangladesh from Group B to Group A as a
replacement for Sri Lanka.
Group B will now have three teams - India, Pakistan and China.
BJSS wary of BPSS challenge
BUKIT Jalil Sports School (BJSS) lost only once in the Malaysia Hockey
League this season - a 4-1 drubbing by Bandar Penawar Sports School
(BPSS).
But the match was academic as BJSS had already won the League title
with one match in hand, and their last fixture was against BPSS.
And even then, BJSS levelled the score at 1-1, before "giving up
meekly".
Tomorrow, the sports schools will square off again for the Overall
title, with the League match of no consequences.
BJSS have the pedigree - seven League and four Overall titles - while
BPSS have yet to claim any titles since playing in the junior league.
"I admit it will be difficult this year, as all my boys are under-17,
while BPSS have pre-university boys with experience and strength on their
side.
"In the league, we did manage to draw level, but then gave up because
we did not want to pick up injuries or cards going into the knock-out
stage," said BJSS coach S. Prakash.
And their trump card will be Dangerous Lee ak Mathew, who has scored 13
penalty corner goals so far.
"Dangerous has been consistent but I am worried as BPSS have fast
runners and this could spell trouble. However, we have many set-pieces
and will use them as well," said Prakash.
The leading scorer in the MHL is K. Satesh of Nur Insafi with 14 goals,
but he could be toppled when the dust settles on Wednesday.
"We have fitness and skills on our side, while BPSS have matured
players who have proved to be dangerous on the counter.
"It will not be easy to defend our title, but I am sure the boys will
give their best," said Prakash.
TOMORROW - Final: Bukit Jalil Sports School v Bandar Penawar Sports
School (National Stadium Pitch II, 5pm).
Third-Fourth: Petaling Jaya City Council v Tenaga Nasional (National
Stadium Pitch II, 3pm).
Contrasting paths to the final
SPORTS Schools Bukit Jalil (BJSS) and Bandar Penawar (BPSS) will battle
for the Malaysia Hockey League Overall title on Wednesday after they beat
their opponents in contrasting styles.
BJSS edged Petaling Jaya City Council (PJCC) 3-2 for a 5-3 aggregate
win, while BPSS beat Tenaga Nasional 3-2 for a comfortable 7-3 aggregate
win.
Yesterday, BJSS were let off the hook when PJCC failed to score even
when they were "given" ample opportunities in the second half.
BJSS took a 3-0 lead off Fahmi Faiz (eighth), Dangerous Lee (12th) and
Izad Hakimi (19th), before PJCC came back into the match with goals from
Faiz Sukri (24th) and Aidil Hakimi (44th), but failed to convert the
numerous chances that came their way after that.
At the Bandar Penawar pitch, Tenaga Nasional took a 2-0 lead off Faiz
Adnan (10th) and Sabri Mohamed (17th), but BPSS came back convincingly in
the second half.
Firhan Ashaari (46th), Fitri Saari (48th) and Noor Faeez Ibrahim scored
for BPSS.
"We scored three early goals and after that, a freak accident allowed
PJCC to crawl back into the match. My goalkeeper's hockey stick got stuck
in the net during the penalty corner and PJCC scored.
"My boys lost their composure after that, but still held on to win.
They have fitness and skills, but it looks like I will have to work on
the mental aspect.
"These boys are all under-17, and would become an asset once they know
how to keep their composure," said BJSS coach S. Prakash.
PJCC coach Paul Raj was happy with his team's commitment: "We gave them
a tough fight, and only bowed out because of poor penalty corner
defending.
"Last season, we were knocked out of the quarters, and this year we
advanced further and I see this as progress," said Paul.
RESULTS - S-finals, second leg: Bukit Jalil Sports School 3 Petaling
Jaya City Council 2; (BJSS win on 5-3 aggregate); Bandar Penawar Sports
School 3 Tenaga Nasional 2 (BPSS win on 7-3 aggregate).
FINAL - Wednesday: Bukit Jalil Sports School v Bandar Penawar Sports
School (National Stadium, 5pm).
Thursday, April 30, 2009
FIH looking for making hockey even more attractive
By Leandro Negre, FIH President
It is just a little more than five months since I have been elected as President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). During these five months a lot happened in hockey and the FIH. Together with the new Executive Board, we are looking into all methods of making hockey even more attractive, at international, continental, national, regional and local level. It is too early now to give details about all the plans, as before implementing them, I will discuss them in debt with the Executive Board and the respective Committees. But you can be sure that the new strategic directions will have excellent implications for hockey.
Like all other four continental federations, the Asian Hockey Federation plays a key role in the development of our sport. It is a pleasure for me to work with the Asian countries, especially with the FIH World Level Events
The FIH is satisfied with the progress of the FIH World Cup in New Delhi, India in March 2010. Like for all FIH World Level Events, the Executive Board and the professional staff in the office in Lausanne, Switzerland are monitoring the progress on a daily basis. If, for one reason or the other, the FIH cannot host the 2010 FIH World Cup in India, there is of course a Plan B which will be implemented.
This is nothing special, as this is the case for all our events. Everybody can remember the extremely difficult decision the FIH had to take to shift the 2007 Samsung Champions Trophy from Pakistan to Malaysia. The FIH certainly hopes that it would never have to make these difficult decisions again.
The FIH is always looking for improvement. But before changing a rule, the way of qualifying for the World Cup or the structure of our World Level Events, different important steps have to be made. There are 13 FIH Committees in which experts are discussing the different aspects of the FIH and hockey in general. These committees provide the Executive Board with proposals and give expert advice to the Executive Board in their respective area.
The Competitions Committee is for example responsible for all technical related items of FIH World Level Events, while the Bid Evaluation Committee deals with the allocation of the FIH tournaments. The Umpiring Committee is the responsible body for all umpiring matters.
It is a pleasure for me to be back in Malaysia soon and I am already looking forward to the FIH Junior World Cup in June when the Malaysian Hockey Confederation is hosting together with Singapore Hockey Federation the matches between the 20 best junior teams in the world.
It is just a little more than five months since I have been elected as President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). During these five months a lot happened in hockey and the FIH. Together with the new Executive Board, we are looking into all methods of making hockey even more attractive, at international, continental, national, regional and local level. It is too early now to give details about all the plans, as before implementing them, I will discuss them in debt with the Executive Board and the respective Committees. But you can be sure that the new strategic directions will have excellent implications for hockey.
Like all other four continental federations, the Asian Hockey Federation plays a key role in the development of our sport. It is a pleasure for me to work with the Asian countries, especially with the FIH World Level Events
The FIH is satisfied with the progress of the FIH World Cup in New Delhi, India in March 2010. Like for all FIH World Level Events, the Executive Board and the professional staff in the office in Lausanne, Switzerland are monitoring the progress on a daily basis. If, for one reason or the other, the FIH cannot host the 2010 FIH World Cup in India, there is of course a Plan B which will be implemented.
This is nothing special, as this is the case for all our events. Everybody can remember the extremely difficult decision the FIH had to take to shift the 2007 Samsung Champions Trophy from Pakistan to Malaysia. The FIH certainly hopes that it would never have to make these difficult decisions again.
The FIH is always looking for improvement. But before changing a rule, the way of qualifying for the World Cup or the structure of our World Level Events, different important steps have to be made. There are 13 FIH Committees in which experts are discussing the different aspects of the FIH and hockey in general. These committees provide the Executive Board with proposals and give expert advice to the Executive Board in their respective area.
The Competitions Committee is for example responsible for all technical related items of FIH World Level Events, while the Bid Evaluation Committee deals with the allocation of the FIH tournaments. The Umpiring Committee is the responsible body for all umpiring matters.
It is a pleasure for me to be back in Malaysia soon and I am already looking forward to the FIH Junior World Cup in June when the Malaysian Hockey Confederation is hosting together with Singapore Hockey Federation the matches between the 20 best junior teams in the world.
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