Pahang women win inaugural title...

RAZAK CUP 2016

In the men's Division Two final, Penang and Perlis played to a 4-4 draw, but Penang gained promotion by winning the shoot-out 3-2.
 And Johor, last in Division One, will play in the lower division next year.
  For Penang, Jiwa Mohan (30th), Izwan Firdaus (42nd, 58th) and Hafizhuddin Zaidi (47th) delivered. The Perlis scorers were Najmi Farizal (35th, 49th), Azhad Akmal (36th) and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (39th).
 Meanwhile, in the women's final, Pahang won the inaugural title when they hammered Armed Forces 4-0. The Pahang scorers were Nuraini Abdul Rashid (22nd, 47th), Noorain Arshad (23rd) and Wan Nor Faiezah (40th).
  RESULTS: Division One: Division One Final: Terengganu v Police x.
  Division Two Final: Penang 4 Perlis 4 (Penang win shoot-out 3-2) .
  Women's Final: Pahang 4 Armed Forces 0; Third-Fourth: Kuala Lumpur 2 Selangor 4; Fifth-Sixth: Malacca 1 Perak 1 (Perak win shoot-out 2-1); Seventh-Eighth: Terengganu 1 Johor 2; Ninth-10th: Sarawak 5 Penang 3; 11th-12th: Kedah 1 Sabah 1 (Sabah win shoot-out 4-2).

Gurmit and Sarjit rise again...

From LEFT: Terengganu coach Sarjit Singh and skipper Faizal Shaari. Police skipper Baljit Singh and coach Gurmit Singh.

FORMER National coaches Sarjit Singh and Gurmit Singh were all-praises about each other's abilities yesterday, but the good friends will leave no stone unturned to beat the other to the 54th Razak Cup Division One title at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil Sunday.
  Gurmit will have a slight advantage, as Polices' secret weapon has been penalty corner specialists Razie Rahim and Baljit Singh, while Nabil Fiqri is a super feeder.
  Former national player Baljit has completed his Inspector's training, while national players Nabil and Razie joined a nine-month training stint with Police on May 8, but received exemption to play hockey.
  Sarjit will again bank on his 13 Malaysia Games players, and Faizal Shaari, who is tied on five goals with Razie for the top-scorers' award.
  In Division Two, Perlis will play Penang and the champion will gain promotion. And in the inaugural women's Razak Cup, Pahang will play Armed Forces.
  "I was assistant coach to Sarjit for the 2008 Olympics Qualifier in Japan (Kakamigahara) and learned much from him. We are very good friends off the pitch, but for four quarters tomorrow (today) we will be planning to beat the other at any cost," said Gurmit.
  Police have had a fairy-tale run thus far, as last season they ended as Division Two champions with 17 goals scored by their skipper Baljit. And barely 12 months later, they are in the final of Division One.
  "We had had had a tough journey to reach the final, with Malacca (2-2) and Perak (3-0) giving us a really tough fight (Police scored all three goals in the last quarter).
  "And with the cup just one step away, I believe my team-mates will give their very best to win the first Division One title for Police," said skipper Baljit.
  Terengganu, who last won the title in 2012, but Sarjit is a master tactician, who has turned his 13 Malaysia Games players into gems.
  "My young players have a never-say-die attitude and execute different plans for different teams without asking questions.
  "They have managed to adapt to many different styles of play in this tournament, and even though Gurmit is a very good friend, I have a plan to beat his team to the title," said Sarjit.
  Both Sarjit and Gurmit were unceremoniously dumped after Malaysia finished third in the Kakamigahara Olympic qualifier, but rose from the ashes to lead their teams into the final.
  RESULTS: Division One: Third-Fourth: Malacca x Perak x; Fifth-Sixth: Negri Sembilan x Kuala Lumpur x; Seventh-Eighth: Pahang x Johor (6pm, Pitch I).
  Division Two: Third-Fourth: Kelantan x Forces x.
  Women's Round Two - Group X: Malacca x Pahang x; Group Y: Perak x Selangor x; Group M: Terengganu x Malacca x; Group N: Johor x Penang x.
  SUNDAY: Division One Final: Terengganu v Police (8.35pm, Pitch II).
  Division Two Final: Penang v Perlis (6pm, Pitch II).
  Women's Final: Pahang v Armed Forces (4pm, Pitch II); Third-Fourth: Kuala Lumpur v Selangor (4pm, Pitch I); Fifth-Sixth: Malacca v Perak (9.30am, Pitch II); Seventh-Eighth: Terengganu v Johor (7.30am, Pitch I); Ninth-10th: Sarawak v Penang (7.30am, Pitch II); 11th-12th: Kedah v Sabah (9.30pm, Pitch I).

RAZAK CUP: Terengganu v Police final

TERENGGANU will play Police in the final of the 54th Razak Cup Sunday at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

  In the semi-finals, Terengganu dumped defending champions Malacca 4-0, while Police beat silver medallists Perak 3-0.

  It was an amazing feat from both the finalists, as Terengganu finished a lowly sixth last season, while Police gained promotion after becoming champions in Division Two.

  Malacca were in total shambles, as Terengganu slowed down the match and scored a goal in each quarter.

  Faizal Shaari opened scoring with a reverse stick in the third minute, and contributed another in the 32nd minute. The other goals were scored by 16-year-old Akhimullah Anuar (25th), and Firhan Ashaari (60th).

  As for Police, their opening goal was scored with a tap-in by Kamarudin Latiff, after a super solo run and a reverse stick pass from national player Nabil Fiqri in the 48th minute.

  The second goal followed soon, with a field attempt from Faizal Raza in the 52nd minute. And Nabil rounded up the score to 3-0 with a field attempt in the 56th minute.

  "Our plan worked well as we deliberately slowed down the match to our pace. Malacca are a very fast outfit, and to play their pace would have been disastrous.

  "We were sixth last season, and it is an achievement to reach the final this year. We have a chance to lay our hands on the title, and I believe my players will not waste this golden opportunity," said Terengganu coach Sarjit Singh.

  Terengganu's revelation in the Razak Cup is Akhimullah, 16, and going places.

  "He just returned from the Mannheim (Germany) Under-16 tournament and his parents gave him leave to play in the Razak Cup. He scored the second goal today (yesterday), which eased some pressure on us. I believe he has many more good years to offer his state, as well as the country," said Sarjit.

  Akhimullah scored two goals against the German Under-17 team in Mannheim, to hold them 5-5.

  "I could not have asked more from my players, who rose from Division Two champions to enter the Division One final. This a great moment for the Police Force, and hopefully, we can lift the trophy on Sunday," said Police coach Gurmit Singh.

  RESULTS: Division One -- Semi-finals: Malacca 0 Terengganu 4; Perak 0 Police 3.

  Division Two: Semi-finals: Penang 7 Kelantan 3; Armed Forces 1 Perlis 4; Seventh-Eighth: Sarawak 2 Kedah 4; Fifth-Sixth: Selangor 8 Sabah 2.

  Women's Round Two - Group X: Kuala Lumpur 5 Malacca 1; Group Y: Armed Forces 6 Perak 2; Group M: Sarawak 0 Terengganu 3; Group N: Sabah 1 Johor 3.

  SATURDAY: Division One: Third-Fourth: Malacca v Perak (8pm, Pitch II); Fifth-Sixth: Negri Sembilan v Kuala Lumpur (6pm, Pitch II); Seventh-Eighth: Pahang v Johor (6pm, Pitch I).

  Division Two: Third-Fourth: Kelantan v Armed Forces (8pm, Pitch I).

  Women's Round Two - Group X: Malacca v Pahang (7.30am, Pitch 1); Group Y: Perak v Selangor (7.30am, Pitch 2); Group M: Terengganu v Malacca (9.30am, Pitch 1); Group N:  Johor v Penang (9.30am, Pitch 2).

Police survive Red Card...

NEWLY promoted Police saw red, but still managed to hold Razak Cup defending champion Malacca to a 2-2 draw in a highly tensed Division One Group A match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Wednesday.
  Malacca and Police ended with seven points, but the champions topped the group on a better goal average.
  In another Division One Group B match, Perak held Terengganu 4-4 to top the group on seven points.
  Perak will meet Police in the semi-finals on Friday, while Malacca will play Terengganu in the last four.
  National player Azreen Rizal was flashed the red card in the 21st minute for using a vulgar word on umpire Nor Azhar Abiddin. But even with a man down, Police still showed that they are the team to beat in the 54th Edition.
  National skipper Razie Rahim, who also lost his temper and was benched with a yellow, salvaged the match for Police with goals in the 14th and 53rd minutes.
  The Malacca goals were scored by Firdaus Omar in the 27th minute, and Dedy Ariyadi in the 54th minute.
  Police coach Gurmit Singh said: "I think the vulagar word was uttered in the heat of the moment and my player did not deserve a red card. Now we will miss a crucial player in the semi-finals."
  Azreen played in the recent Azlan Shah Cup as a midfielder.
  Malacca coach Azrul Effendy felt his side played the worst game of the tournament.
  "This is our worse match and I know my players can play at a higher level. Hopefully we do not play the same in the semi-finals. We have been in centralised training for more than a month to defend out title, and having come so close, we don't want to lose our grip in the last four," said Azrul.
  RESULTS: Division One: Group A: Malacca 2 Police 2, Pahang 4 Johor 3; Group B: Perak 4 Terengganu 4, Negri Sembilan 1 Kuala Lumpur 3.
  Women's Group A: Pahang 4 Johor 1, Police 0 Sarawak 0; Group B: Kuala Lumpur 3 Terengganu 1, Armed Forces 4 Negri Sembilan 2; Group C: Malacca 4 Kedah 0, Perak 1 Penang 0.
  THURSDAY: Division One - 5th-8th Placing: Pahang v Negri Sembilan (8pm, Pitch I); Johor v Kuala Lumpur (8pm, Pitch II).
  Division Two - 5th-8th Placing: Selangor v Sarawak (6pm, Pitch 1), Sabah v Kedah (6pm, Pitch 2); 
  Women's Second Round - Group X: Pahang v Kuala Lumpur (7.30am, Pitch 1); Group Y: Selangor v Armed Forces (7.30am, Pitch2); Group M: Kedah v Sarawak (9.30am, Pitch 1); Penang v Sabah (9.30am, Pitch 2); 13th - 14th Placing: Police v Negeri Sembilan (6pm, Pitch 2).
  Note: All Matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Razak Cup: Perak check into semis...

RAZAK Cup silver medallists Perak beat Kuala Lumpur 4-2 to move into the semi-finals from Group B at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Tuesday.
  Terengganu, who were held 2-2 by Negri Sembilan, will have to beat Perak today to claim their spot in the semi-finals. Negri Sembilan also have an outside chance, provided they beat Kuala Lumpur by a big margin and Terengganu lose to Perak.
  Meanwhile, despite nursing an injury, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin scored five goals to help Perlis hammer Kedah 6-1 in their Group A Division Two match to book a semi-finals ticket.
  In the other Group A match, Penang beat Selangor 2-0 to finish tops on nine points.
  On Friday Perlis will play Armed Forces in the semi-finals, while in the other semis, Kelantan will meet Penang.
  Perlis, who faced a must win situation, were saved by Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin.
  Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin scored in the 19th, 23rd, 32nd, 34th and 40th, while Azwadi Ridzuan (28th), scored the other goal. The Perlis goal was scored by Fahmi Nasir in the 39th minute.
  Perlis coach Badrisham Che Yob praised his star performer.
  "Despite carrying an injury picked up in an earlier match against Selangor, he is irreplaceable for us. Most of our players are still young and they look to him for guidance on and off the field, which he delivers.
  "Today (yesterday), it was a must-win match for us if we wanted to advance and the score line says much about our team spirit."
  RESULTS: Division One: Group B: Negri Sembilan 2 Terengganu 2, Kuala Lumpur 2 Perak 4.
  Division Two: Group A: Selangor 0 Penang 2, Kedah 1 Perlis 6; Group B: Kelantan 4 Sabah 1, Sarawak 0 Armed Forces 12.
  Women's Group A: Selangor 1 Police 0, Sarawak 1 Pahang 5; Group B: Sabah 0 Armed Forces 3, Negeri Sembilan 0 Kuala Lumpur 10.
  WEDNESDAY: Division One: Group A: Malacca v Police (6pm, Pitch I), Pahang v Johor (6pm, Pitch II); Group B: Perak v Terengganu (8pm, Pitch I); Negri Sembilan v Kuala Lumpur (8pm, Pitch II).
  Women's Group A: Pahang v Johor (4pm, Pitch I), Police v Sarawak (4pm, Pitch II); Group B: Kuala Lumpur v Terengganu (7.30am, Pitch I), Armed Forces v Negri Sembilan (7.30am, Pitch II); Group C: Malacca v Kedah (9.30am, Pitch I); Perak v Penang (9.30am, Pitch II).