Made-in-Malaysia KLHC the best bet

FOREIGN players have turned out to be more of a bane, than help, for many teams who relied heavily on them in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League.
A total of 26 foreign players are involved in the League, with Yayasan Negri Sembilan having the lion’s share of 11, mostly Pakistanis.
Nur Insafi have eight, UniKL four while Sapura three.
However, local based Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) lead the standings and look the best bet to lift the League title, while another local-based side Tenaga Nasional won the Charity Shield and are third on the standings.
UniKL, in second spot, made some good foreign buys who have jelled well with the local young talent, and have made a great improvement from their bottom placed finish last season.
But Sapura, Nur Insafi and Yayasan Negri Sembilan have been on a roller-coaster ride due to injuries to their for eigners, and the habitual never-ending disappearing act of their foreign imports.
Sapura were hard hit when Rehan Butt went home to play for his club, while Korean Lim Woo Geun is down with groin injury. Their goalkeeper David Kettle from Wales, is also down with suspected kidney.
With the absence of the trio, Sapura barely won both their weekend fixtures, as they were lucky that their opponents were not sharp enough in the semi-circle.
Coach I. Vickneswaran admitted: “We were lucky to win both the matches (2-1 against both YNS and UiTM) because their forwards were not sharp enough to snatch on the many opportunities that we gave away. It would have been dis astrous, otherwise.”
YNS, however, were not as lucky when their Pakistan back- bone returned home to play in an inter-department tour nament.
Inter-department? Yes, defender Mohamed Imran and forwards Shakeel Abbasi and Muhammad Waqas Sharif left to play for their departments whn YNS needed them most against Sapura and Tenaga Nasional.
Needless to say, they lost both the matches even though they still had eight more imports to rely upon.
Nur Insafi also suffered over the weekend with only 13 players (one reserve outfield, and a reserve goalkeeper) because their Pakistan imports had to go home for a domestic league. They lost three crucial points in the 3-1 defeat to bottom-placed UiTM, and two points in the 1-1 draw against UniKL.
KLHC, who have the most number of national players, will get their chance to seal the League title next weekend when they play against YNS and Sapura, and hammer home the point that is it better to rely on the best in the country, than to invest in foreign players who have mid-way commitments -- for their departments.
PREMIER DIVISION: Friday -- Sapura v Nur Insafi (3.30pm), Maybank v UiTM (5.15pm), Tenaga Nasional v Armed Forces-Airod (7pm), Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (8.45pm).
* All matches at the Tun Razak Stadium.
Saturday: Nur Insafi v Armed Forces-Airod (4pm), Sapura v Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (6pm), Maybank v Tenaga Nasional (8pm), UniKL v Yayasan Negri Sembilan (KLHA Stadium, 5pm).
* All other matches at the Tun Razak Stadium.
DIVISION ONE: Friday -- UniTen v Ipoh City Hall (KLHA Stadium, 5pm), Armed Forces Jnrs v Bukit Jalil Sports School (Education Ministry, 5pm), Malacca City Council v Universiti Sains Malaysia (Malacca, 5pm).
Sunday: Ipoh City Hall v Universiti Sains Malaysia (Azlan Shah Stadium, 5pm), UniTen v Bukit Jalil Sports School (KLHA Stadium, 5pm), Armed Forces Jnrs v Bandar PE nawar Sports School (Bandar Penawar, 5pm).

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
SAPURA 11 7 0 4 31 21 21
YNS 12 7 0 5 38 28 21
NUR INSAFI 12 4 2 6 21 34 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

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

KLHC still in control

KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) bungled a
handful of sitters, but still walked away 3-2 winners
against Maybank in the Premier Division of the
Malaysia Hockey League yesterday.
KLHC, who drew 2-2 with Maybank in the first
round, are now poised to lift the League title if they
win at least three of their remaining five matches.
Yesterday, Razie Rahim started the count with a
penalty corner attempt in the seventh minute, while
Ahmad Anuar Sham made it 2-0 in the 11th minute
off a field attempt.
However, Maybank pulled one back in the 15th
minute when N. Ugentheren scored off a soft field
attempt.
National player Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin saved the
blushes for KLHC with a sizzling top-of-the-net shot
in the 41st minute, as Maybank won a penalty
corner in the 70th minute and Tengku's goal turned
crucial.
Engku Malek made it 2-3 for Maybank off the last
attempt, but time ran out for his side.
"My players found it hard to concentrate because
the heat was unbearable (the match started at
3.30pm), but still, we did enough to keep the title in
sight.
"Now, if other teams falter, we might just win the
title with a few matches to spare. But even then, if
we keep the momentum and win three more
matches (out of remaining five), we will be at the
top of the podium anyway," said KLHC coach K.
Dharmaraj.
Maybank were a jaded side, as their main
defender K. Gobinathan and penalty corner flicker
Hairul Nizam were suspended for this match after
picking up maximum demerit points.
In another match, Sapura delt a blow to Yayasan
Negri Sembilan's dreams by edging them 2-1.
The first half was scoreless, but just after the
rain-delayed re-start, Sapura nailed the lead off
Izwan Firdaus in the 39th minute, but YNS equalised
off Deepak Thakur in the 46th minute.
Former national skipper S. Kuhan delived the
killer blow when he nailed the winner for Sapura in
the 49th minute off a penalty corner attempt.
RESULTS: Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club 3 Maybank
2, Yayasan Negri Sembilan 1 Sapura 2, Armed
Forces-Airod 1 UniKL 2, UiTM 3 Nur Insafi 2.
FIXTURES -- Premier Division: Today: UiTM v
Sapura (Tun Razak Stadium, 4pm), Nur Insafi v
UniKL (Tun Razak Stadium, 6pm), Yayasan Negri
Sembilan v Tenaga Nasional (Tun Razak Stadium,
8pm), Armed Forces-Airod v Maybank (KLHA, 5pm).
Division One -- Today: Bandar Penawar Sports
School v Ipoh City Hall (Bandar Penawar, 5pm),
Malacca City Council v Armed Forces Juniors
(Malacca, 5pm), Universiti Sains Malaysia v UniTen
(USM, 5pm).

STANDINGS

PREMIER DIVISION
Armed

P W D L F A Pt
KLHC 11 9 1 1 50 17 28
UNIKL 11 7 2 2 20 15 23
YNS 11 7 0 4 36 24 21
TNB 10 6 1 3 21 12 19
SAPURA 10 6 0 4 29 20 18
NUR INSAFI 11 4 1 6 20 32 13
MAYBANK 10 1 3 6 9 17 6
ATM 11 2 0 9 11 34 6
UITM 11 2 0 9 17 41 6

DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
ATM JNR 7 6 1 0 20 4 19
BJSS 7 4 0 3 15 8 12
BPSS 6 4 0 2 12 10 12
IPOH CH 8 3 2 3 14 16 11
MALACCA CC 7 3 0 4 10 9 9
USM 7 2 0 5 9 22 6
UNITEN 6 0 1 5 3 14 1

Chua Boon Huat to the rescue

KUALA LUMPUR Hockey Club (KLHC) will be banking on veteran striker Chua Boon Huat (pic) to do the damages against Maybank in the Premier Division of the malaysia Hockey League today.
Chua, 30, has been in super form to outshine his more younger team-mates by scoring 10 out of KLHC’s 47 goals to keep his team at the top of the standings.
He represented the country for 11 years, and earned 306 caps after making his international debut in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games. His last international outing was in the 2009 Champions Challenge II tournament in Ireland.
When asked if he is willing to don national colours again: “I am still fit and have proven myself in the MHL, but I don’t think I will receive a national training recall because of certain reasons which I don’t want to talk about.”
However, he is still in his prime and ready to help his club win the League title.
“We are in a good position to win the league title, provided we do not drop points in the remaining matches. It will not be easy, but I will give my best in every match,” said Chua.
KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj described the Maybank match as crucial, but not necessarily easy.
“It is never easy playing a team like Maybank, who have some good seniors and upcoming juniors in their side. I will plan to maintain our winning streak, but it would be foolish to take matters easy against Maybank,” said Dharmaraj.
KLHC have some of the best players in the country like Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Azlan Misron, Kelvinder Singh and Ismail Abu to feed their hit-man Chua, who is expecetd to deliver again against Maybank today.
Second placed Yayasan Negri Sembilan are only four points adrift of KLHC, and if they beat Sapura today, they have a realistic chance of wresting the title from the leaders as teams have five more matches to play after this weekend before the champion is decided.
FIXTURES -- Premier Division: Today: Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club v Maybank (3.30pm), Yayasan Negri Sembilan v Sapura (5.15pm), Armed Forces-Airod v UniKL (7pm), UiTM v Nur Insafi (8.45pm).
* All matches at the Tun Razak Stadium.
Tomorrow: UiTM v Sapura (Tun Razak Stadium, 4pm), Nur Insafi v UniKL (Tun Razak Stadium, 6pm), Yayasan Negri Sembilan v Tenaga Nasional (Tun Razak Stadium, 8pm), Armed Forces-Airod v Maybank (KLHA, 5pm).
Tomorrow: Division One: Bandar Penawar Sports School v Ipoh City Hall (Bandar Penawar, 5pm), Malacca City Council v Armed Forces Juniors (Malacca, 5pm), Universiti Sains Malaysia v UniTen (USM, 5pm).

STANDINGS

PREMIER DIVISION

P W D L F A Pt
KLHC 10 8 1 1 47 15 25
YNS 10 7 0 3 35 22 21
UNIKL 10 6 2 2 18 14 20
TNB 10 6 1 3 21 12 19
SAPURA 9 5 0 4 27 19 15
NUR INSAFI 10 4 1 5 18 30 13
MAYBANK 9 1 3 5 7 14 6
ATM-AIROD 10 2 0 8 10 32 6
UITM 10 1 0 9 14 39 3

DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pt
ATM JNR 7 6 1 0 20 4 19
BJSS 7 4 0 3 15 8 12
BPSS 6 4 0 2 12 10 12
IPOH CH 8 3 2 3 14 16 11
MALACCA CC 7 3 0 4 10 9 9
USM 7 2 0 5 9 22 6
UNITEN 6 0 1 5 3 14 1

Making amends with recognition and goal-setting

By Jugjet Singh
jugjet@nstp.com.my

COMMENT

THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) president and council members finally congratulated national No 1 goalkeeper S. Kumar, and as a sweetener, the council also endorsed a RM5,000 bonus for him.
Kumar was named Best Player in Asia by the Asian Hockey Federation, and was also selected as an Asian-All Star player on Jan 15, but he was neither informed about it by the MHF, nor congratulated after the news was published.
However, MHF was better late than never in recognising his talent last Saturday.
The reward and a congratulatory note will be given to him when the Premier Division League champions are decided at the Malacca Stadium and MHF president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah will do the honours.
And the second "better late than never" was when the council set themselves and their players with clear short and long-term goals -- and they duly endorsed it.
The federation has been running without any direction or goals, but has now set five targets to achieve with the intention of developing world class players and officials to bring glory to the nation.
The federation's goals are:
1 Achieving international success at highest level via a road map and journey with targets
2 Lifting the profile of the game at school level in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
3 Attracting and keeping young Malaysians in the game through 'Project Hockey 1MAS'
4 Governing the sport effectively
5 Broaden MHF's income base
The plan is long overdue, as Malaysia last played in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup. Since then, we have failed to qualify for two Olympics and two World Cups in the past eight years.
With the federation having set itself clear goals, the national junior and senior teams were also handed their respective targets with the objective of qualifying by virtue, and not by chance.
Malaysia are ranked 15th in the world, and the only way to break into the top 10, which is the president's target, is to play in the World Cup and Olympics.
• Short-term targets (2011-2012):
1 FIH Champion Challenge 1 - top 5 (among eight teams)
2 2012 Olympics - uphill task to qualify via current FIH Olympic system of three qualifiers with only the champions qualifying.
3 Qualifying for Junior World Cup 2013.
4 World ranking from 11 to 13.
• Medium targets (2013-2017):
1 2013 Asia Cup - top 3
2 Qualify for 2014 World Cup via new FIH world series format.
3 2013 Junior World Cup - 8th to 10th.
4 2014 World Cup - 8th to 11th
5 2014 Asian Games - top 3
6 2016 Olympics - 8th to 11th position via new FIH world series format.
7 2017 Junior World Cup - 6th to 8th.
• LONG-term - more than five years
1 2018 World Cup - top 8
2 2020 Olympics - top 8
3 2021 Junior World Cup - 6th to 8th
The MHF has set itself and the players stiff, but gradual targets. But the dream to break into the top 10 can only be realised if the state affiliates develop their own set of actions in support of the overall national goals.

New Straits Times