Explosive battle in Johor Baru

TUNKU Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI)-Thunderbolts played bridesmaid against UniKL in the Milo-Junior Hockey League league title battle for the last two seasons, but one man is bent on changing matters today.
Both the teams will play their last league fixtures, with Thunderbolts only needing a draw while UniKL an outright win to lift the League title.
Thunderbolts forward Shahril Saabah said he has a score to settle against arch rivals UniKL at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.
Last season, the Project 2013 player gave Thunderbolt the lead, also in the last league match against UniKL at Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium, but UniKL equalised and the match ended in a 1-1 draw, which handed the university team the league title as they had a better goal difference.
However, the tables are turned against UniKL today, as even thugh both the teams have 21 points and a six-goal cushion, Thunderrbolts have scored 43 while UniKL 42 goals.
Shahril, 19, scored 10 goals in six matches and said he has been waiting for a long time to settle the score.
"Last season I scored first, but we still lost the league title after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. But tomorrow (today), we just need a draw to win the league title but we will not take any chances and will be going all for a win," said Shahril who was the top scorer last year with 15 goals.
UniKL received a big boost as their skipper Taufik Hamid will return after a three-match ban for a red card offense.
He was banned three matches afte he hit Bukit Jalil Sports School's (BJSS) Ashraf Alias on the face with a stick on Feb 4.
Taufik, a former Thunderbolts player, said that it would be an uphill battle as they are playing away.
"It will be touch-and-go as our last two league matches in the last two years in KL ended in a 1-1 draw.
"However, I hope my team-mates will rise to occasion in Johor Baru to retain the league title," said Taufik, who scored three goals.
TODAY: DIVISION ONE -- SSTMI-Thunderbolts v UniKL (Taman Daya Stadium, Pitch I 5.30pm), SSTMI v USM-MSSPP Juniors
(Taman Daya stadium, Pitch I 3.30pm)

DIVISION TWO

THIRD PLACING: Politeknik KPT v Batu Pahat (Taman Daya Stadium, Pitch II, 3.00pm)
FINAL: Sapura v Malacca High School (Taman Daya Stadium, Pitch II, 5.00pm)

STANDINGS

DIVISION ONE

P W D L F A Pts
THUNDERBOLTS 7 7 0 0 43 7 21
UNIKL 7 7 0 0 42 6 21
BJSS 8 5 1 2 30 17 16
Anderson 8 4 1 3 28 27 13
USM Jnrs 7 3 1 3 16 22 10
MBPJ 8 3 0 5 20 21 9
SSTMI 7 2 0 5 12 33 6
TBSS 8 1 1 6 15 34 4
BJSS Jnrs 8 0 0 8 5 44 0

UniKL's seven not enough

UNIKL beat USM Juniors 7-1 to take the Milo-Junior Hockey League Division One title to the wire tomorrow at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.
League champions UniKL and SSTMI Thunderbolts are tied on 21 points as well as having a similar six goal cushion, and incidentally, they will square off in the last JHL match of the season to decide the title.
Thunderbolts need a draw, while UniKL need an outright win to defend their title.
"We made it difficult on ourselves by letting in a soft goal against USM, and now will have to beat Thunderbolts on Sunday (tomorrow). We missed too many sitters against USM, and we can't afford that in the last match of the season," said UniKL manager Amir Azhar.
The UniKL goals were scored by Haziq Samsul (14th), Hafiz Zainol (29th, 37th), Nor Aqmal Gaffar (35th), Ibnu Fata Illah (42nd) and N. Kaatigana (56th, 69th).
And the USM consolation was nailed by Rahimi Iskandar in the 46th minute.
"Today (yesterday) the boys did not play according to the game plan and looked lethargic for the first 20 minutes. However, the 3-0 half-time lead was promising, and it looked like we were on target to achieve our seven goal margin but then we let in a simple goal to make it difficult.
"The last two years in the League, we drew 1-1 on both occasions against Thunderbolts and that is why we wanted the goals cushion against USM, but could not achieve it," said Amir.
In the Division Two semi-finals, Sapura beat Batu Pahat 4-2 while Malacca High School beat Politeknik PKT 2-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Overall title chase.
RESULTS: Division One -- SSTMI 3 TBSS 1, MBPJ 3 BJSS Juniors 1, UniKL Young Guns 7 USM Juniors 1.
DIVISION TWO: Semi-finals -- Sapura 4 Batu Pahat 2, Malacca High School 2 Politeknik PKT 1.
TOMORROW: SSTMI Thunderbolts v UniKL Young Guns (Taman Daya Pitch I, 5.30pm), SSTMI v USM-MSSPP Juniors (Taman Daya Pitch II, 3pm),

DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
THUNDERBOLTS 7 7 0 0 43 7 21
UNIKL 7 7 0 0 42 6 21
BJSS 8 5 1 2 30 17 16
Anderson 8 4 1 3 28 27 13
USM Jnrs 7 3 1 3 16 22 10
MBPJ 8 3 0 5 20 21 9
SSTMI 7 2 0 5 12 33 6
TBSS 8 1 1 6 15 34 4
BJSS Jnrs 8 0 0 8 5 44 0

Indian men and women good as gold

Former Indian men's hockey team coach Jose Brasa (right) feels that the Indian men's and women's teams can make the cut for London Olympics. Sandeep Saxena

By Y. B. Sarangi

Having seen Indian hockey from so close, Jose Brasa is confident that both the men's and women's teams of the host country will make the cut for the London Olympics.
Former Indian men's team coach Brasa, who is now here for the Olympic qualifier as an adviser to the Ukrainian women's side, said the format of the tournament and the quality of the rival teams favoured the home side being coached by Australian Michael Nobbs.
“There is 100 per cent chance that they (men) can qualify. The format of pool-cum-final is designed for India. They have the tendency of losing control over easy matches. In the pool, even if you lose one match it is not going to make much difference. So, the final is important, (in fact) that is the only match (to win). I am sure India will qualify,” said Brasa during an interaction at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.
The Spaniard said the players must make the most of the fabulous opportunity of playing in home conditions. “They need the support of the whole country and they should know that they will get it. Once they qualify, the country and the government should reward them.”
“I met all the (Indian) players at the team hotel. It was nice meeting them, they are all nice human beings,” added Brasa, recalling his association with the players.
Brasa, however, refrained from assessing the change in the team after he left India almost a year ago.
“I have not seen India playing (recently). I only saw the highlights of the Champions Challenge in South Africa and I cannot really comment.”
The well-known coach also rated the Indian women players highly.
“I saw them during the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games (in 2010). Like the men, they have got good individual skills. In comparison to other teams, they are very skilful. They have improved a lot.”
Brasa was optimistic that India, backed by the home crowd, would be able to get the better of the higher-ranked South African women's squad and earn its second entry into Olympics after 1980.
The Hindu

Olak big winners off field..

PIC: PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Michael B.Y. Tio (right) and PKT Logistics chairman Datuk Jalilah Baba.

OLD La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak-PKT) did not make an impact this season, but their sponsors PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd have big plans for their players.
PKT CEO Datuk Michael B.Y. Tio yesterday confirmed that he has set aside RM500,000 for Olak players who want to further their studies.
“We finished third in Division Two (Group B) but turned out big winners when our sponsors agreed to foot food, lodging as well as fees for Olak players who want to further their studies.
“Also, PKT will sponsor a development programme for hockey players in Klang in April, where under-12 and under-15 players will be nurtured for the future,” said Olak team manager Joseph de Silva.
Olak won the Division One title in 1997 and they were double champions in 1998 and 1999, but have been struggling since.
Meanwhile, League holders UniKL Young Guns must score at least six goals against USM Juniors in Division One of the Milo-Junior Hockey League today.
Failing which, they will have to go for an outright win against Overall champions SSTMI Thunderbolts in the final league match at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru on Sunday.
UniKL are unbeaten after six matches but trail Thunderbolts by six goals, and today’s clash against USM Juniors could just make their quest to retain their League title much easier if they score more than six goals, which will see them needing only a draw in the last match.
In Division Two, the semi-finals will be held today to decide which two teams play in the quarter-finals of the Overall title.
Overwhelming favourites Sapura play Batu Pahat, while Malacca High School will meet Politeknik PKT and the finalists will advance to the higher knock-out stage.
TODAY: Division One -- SSTMI v TBSS (Taman Daya, 4pm), MBPJ v BJSS Juniors (Bukit Jalil , 5pm), UniKL Young Guns v USM Juniors (KLHA, 5pm).
DIVISION TWO: Semi-finals -- Sapura v Batu Pahat (Bukit Jalil Pitch II, 5pm), Malacca High School v Politeknik PKT (Bukit Serindit, 5pm).
SUNDAY: SSTMI Thunderbolts v UniKL Young Guns (Taman Daya Pitch I, 5.30pm), SSTMI v USM-MSSPP Juniors (Taman Daya Pitch II, 3pm),

DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
THUNDERBOLTS 7 7 0 0 43 7 21
UNIKL 6 6 0 0 35 5 18
BJSS 8 5 1 2 30 17 16
Anderson 8 4 1 3 28 27 13
USM Jnrs 6 3 1 2 15 15 10
MBPJ 7 2 0 5 17 20 6
TBSS 7 1 1 5 14 31 4
SSTMI 6 1 0 5 9 32 3
BJSS Jnrs 7 0 0 7 4 41 0

DIVISION TWO

GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
SAPURA 8 8 0 0 40 2 24
Poli KPT 8 6 0 2 20 8 18
KHA Jnrs 8 4 2 2 17 12 14
MSS Kel 8 4 1 3 20 15 13
NUR INSAFI 8 3 2 3 11 10 11
KHA-MSNK 8 3 2 3 15 9 11
ANDSON Jnrs 8 3 1 4 15 15 10
MSSPP Jnrs 8 1 0 7 8 36 3
PHNS 8 0 0 8 2 43 0

GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
MHS 7 6 0 1 14 7 18
MPBP 7 5 0 2 14 9 15
OLAK PKT 7 4 1 2 16 13 13
KLSS 7 3 1 3 15 13 10
DATUK TAHA 7 3 1 3 9 11 10
PAHANG 7 3 1 3 10 12 10
SMKPM 7 2 0 5 18 18 6
TUNAS PAHANG 7 0 0 7 6 19 0

Sun and surf in Port Dickson

THE National hockey team are tapering down on physical training, and moving towards team and mental building exercises to prepare for the Dublin Olympic Qualifiers on March 10-18.
Malaysia will battle for the sole ticket to the London Olympics against world No 6 South Korea, Ireland, Chile, Russia and Ukraine.
“Most of the work has been completed and now the players will head for a relaxing weekend in Port Dickson for two days (starting today) where team building and mental strength will be the main agenda,” said national coach Tai Beng Hai.
Chile will be the first ‘hurdle’ and Beng Hai is not taking matters lightly.
“Even though the first three matches (Chile, then Russia and Ukraine) look relatively easy on paper, but we need to get maximum points and also goals to keep the fire burning.”
After that, they will meet the big boys South Korea and finally hosts Ireland, and need to win at least one match to play in the final of the Qualifier.
“We last saw Chile play in the Ireland Champions Challenge II, and their style is similar to Argentina and all their matches were close affairs,” said Beng Hai.
In the 2009 tournament, Japan could only beat Chile 4-3, while Poland edged them 3-2 and Ireland beat them 3-0 in the preliminaries.
Penalty corner flickers Amin Rahim and Razie Rahim suffered injuries during their Tour Down Under, but are recovering nicely.
“Both the penalty corner flickers suffered knocks and bruises during the Tour but should recover fully before we head for Europe. We will only be taking 18 players to we can’t afford to list any injured player on the final list,” said Beng Hai.
Malaysia will set up camp in Cardiff from Feb 28-March 5 after which they will head for Dublin.
The camp is to allow the players to acclimatise and to play at least three matches against Wales.