Police ground Nabil and Razie...

TERENGGANU Hockey Team (THT) beat Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club 2-1 in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League yesterday.

  The defeat has placed a dent on KLHC's title charge, with two more matches to go.

  THT got their goals off Jang Jong Hyun (22nd) and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (35th) while Nor Faeez Ibrahim scored for KLHC in the 28th minute.

  KLHC got themselves into trouble when they fielded Police trainees Nabil Fiqri and Razie Rahim for the Sapura match on Friday.

  Both of them were only released for national training, to do weights, but went on to play for their club in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League instead.

  When the Pulapol Camp Commander found out about it, they were asked to report back for training immediately and left the match at half-time.

  And yesterday, both the national stalwarts were missing in action for KLHC in a crucial match against Terengganu Hockey Team.

  It was the first game of the season for both the players, and it looks like it would be the last as well as their Police training is until the end of the year.

  "This sneaky move has placed both the players hockey careers in a lurch, as they might not get a release from Police to play in the Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan on 20-30 Oct," said an Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) official who declined to be named.

  However, KLHC coach Harun Rashid said he was not aware of the controversy surrounding his team.

  "Razie and Nabil were not used for the second half on Friday for tactical reasons, while they did not play against KLHC today (yesterday) because they had Police training until late evening."

  In another match, Sapura survived by the skin-of-their-teeth when they edged Universiti Kuala Lumpur 1-0 to top the standings.

  It was a penalty stroke from Oscar William Wookey in the 38th minute which gave them three vital points to keep the League title in sight.

  Otherwise, it was a listless match which saw mundane hockey being played for 60 minutes.

  Meanwhile in Divison One, TNB Thunderbolt emerged as the League champions and went home RM30,000 richer following a 13-1 thrashing of ATM Airod. Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) and Universiti Teknologi MARA-KPT (UiTM-KPT) finished second and third respectively.

  In the President's Cup quarter-finals draw held yesterday, TNB Thunderbolt will meet Penang-based Nur Insafi, SSTMI go up against ATM Airod, UiTM-KPT plays Ipoh Municipal Council (MBI) and Politeknik Malaysia meets Bukit Jalil Sports School.

  The first leg quarter-finals will be held on Sept 16 and return leg on Sept 18 followed by the two-leg semifinals (Sept 21 and 23). The final is on Sept 25 at the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium. The champion of the President’s Cup receives RM30,000 and runner-up RM20,000.

  RESULTS: Premier Division -- Sapura 1 UniKL 0, Tenaga 3 Maybank 3, KLHC 1 Terengganu HT 2.

PREMIER DIVISION

            P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

SAPURA      8  6  0  2  14 11 18

KLHC        8  5  2  1  25 11 17

THT         8  5  1  2  22 14 16

UNIKL       8  2  1  5  8  12 7

MAYBANK     8  2  1  5  16 30 7

TENAGA      8  0  3  5  14 21 3

Faizal can play in Alagendra Cup semis...

SAPURA Hockey Club are as good as in the final of the Tan Sri P. Alagendra Cup as they face an amateur side in the semi-finals Tuesday.
  They were paired off with Division One outfit Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) for the last four, and there could even be a thrashing in Johor Baru Tuesday.
  The other semi-finals is between Premier Division sides Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) and Tenaga Nasional -- and it could go to the wire.
  In the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL), THT and Tenaga drew 4-4.
  However, SSTMI could only beat Politeknik Malaysia, another Division One side, 3-0 in the shoot-out after being tied 1-1 during regulation time in the Alagendra Cup quarter-finals.
  As for THT even though Faizal Shaari, who scored 17 goals for them last season, received a red card while playing against Universiti Kuala Lumpur on Sunday -- he is still eligible to turn out for the Alagendra Cup.
  "He received the red card in the Premier Division of the MHL, while the Alagendra Cup is a diffeent tournament and so, Faizal is eligible to play on Tuesday (today)," said MHL Tournament Director Jusvir Singh.
  Faizal called umpire Nor Azhar 'bodoh' (stupid) and will be reffered to the MHL disciplinary committee today for further action in the League.
  Sapura coach Yahya Atan said: "Even though we should have a relatively easy time against SSTMI as compared to the Tenaga-THT match, we need to keep keep our feet on the ground to lay our hands on the inaugural Alagendra Cup."
  "Tenaga have shown they are no pushovers, and with our strikers finding it hard to score goals, we will be bracing for a tough time in the semi-finals," said THT coach Sarjit Singh.
  THT, last season's double champions, are almost out of the running for the League title as their No 1 striker Faizal has yet to score a single goal. His 17 goals last year powered THT to the two titles, as well as the Razak Cup gold.
  TUESDAY -- ALAGENDRA CUP Semi-finals: Tenaga Nasional v Terengganu HT (KLHA,6pm), SSTMI v Sapura (SSTMI, 6pm).

Faizal Shaari sees red for 'bodoh'...

Maybank's Juan Valeriano (with ball) in action against KLHC in the TNBMHL 2016 Premier League match at the KLHA Stadium in Jalan Pantai today. KHLC won 7-2.

SAPURA Hockey Club edged Tenaga Nasional 2-1 to hold on to the Premier Division lead in the Malaysia Hockey League.

  In another match, Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) hammered Maybank 7-2 to keep pace.

  Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) beat UniKL 2-1 but Fazial Shaari marred the win when he was flashed the red card for calling umpire Nor Azhar 'bodoh' (stupid).

  Both the teams square off on Friday, in a match that could decide the which team has the stamina to lay their hands on the League title.

  "The score does not matter as what we need to do is keep winning the three points to place the pressure on leaders Sapura. It is not was to hold onto a lead, and we hope to have a better time than today (yesterday) when we play Sapura on Friday," said KLHC coach Harun Rashid.

  KLHC do not have a mid-week match as they are out of the Tan Sri P. Alagendra Cup knock-out tournament, while Sapura will meet SSTMI on Tuesday.

  "We have a good rest before playing Sapura, and hopefully, it will help us to overtake them on Friday," said Rashid.

   Sapura coach Yahya Atan also felt the Friday encounter would chart his team's fortunes.

  "First we travel to Bandar Penawar to play SSTMI in the Alagendra Cup semi-finals, and after that we meet Sapura on Friday in the MHL. Both the matches are crucial for us as we aim to play in the final of the Cup, and also keep out lead in the MHL," said Yahya.

  RESULTS: Premier Division -- Kuala Lumpur HC 7 Maybank 2, UniKL 1 Terengganu 2, Sapura 2 Tenaga 1.

  ALAGENDRA CUP Semi-finals: Sept 6: Tenaga Nasional v Terengganu HT (KLHA,6pm), SSTMI v Sapura (SSTMI, 6pm).

PREMIER DIVISION

            P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

SAPURA      6  5  0  1  13 8  15

KLHC        6  4  2  0  21 9  14

THT         6  3  1  2  15 11 10

MAYBANK     6  2  0  4  11 22 6

UNIKL       6  1  1  4  5  11  4

TENAGA      6  0  2  4  11 15 2

Sapura lead title chase...

Pic: Sapura's Joel Samul Van Huizen (left) challenges Tenaga's Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi for the ball during their TNBMHL 2016 Premier League match Friday. Sapura won 2-1.


SAPURA Hockey Club barely lead the Premier Division standings at midway, and coach Yahya Omar knows they can't afford to make any blunders in the remaining five matches.
  Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) are biting the heels of Sapura, and it looks like double champions Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) have only an outside chance of defending their League title.
  "It has been too long (11 years) since we last won any titles in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) and being at the top after five matces will not mean a thing is we fumble in the second round," said Yahya.
  Yahya said its all in the hands of his players now.
  "We have a very good team which is capable of winning any match that comes their way, but in the end, all the coaching and training will come to nothing if the players themselves do not have a strong desire to become champions," said Yahya.
  Ironically, Sapura start the second round against Tenaga again today.
  "All the teams will be pressuring us now that we are top of the standings, so I am glad my boys held on, on Friday. This win is very important for us, especially as Sunday's return leg is also against Tenaga because it raises our confidence," added Yahya who praised Tenaga's fighting spirit.
  The other two matches today will also see the same fixtures as Friday, with KLHC playing Maybank and THT against UniKL to kick-start the second round.
  In Division One, SSTMI and TNB Thunderbolts lead the charge into the quarter-finals with 12 points each after six matches. And in the women's MHL, SSTMI and Blue Warriors lead the semi-finals cast with 12 and 10 points after five matches.
  TODAY: Premier Division -- Kuala Lumpur HC v Maybank (KLHA, 6pm), UniKL v Terengganu (KLHA, 8pm), Sapura v Tenaga (Tun Razak, 6pm).
  ALAGENDRA CUP Semi-finals: Sept 6: Tenaga Nasional v Terengganu HT (KLHA,6pm), SSTMI v Sapura (SSTMI, 6pm).


PREMIER DIVISION

            P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

SAPURA      5  4  0  1  11 7  12
KLHC        5  3  2  0  14 7  11
THT         5  2  1  2  13 10 7
MAYBANK     5  2  0  3  9  15 6
UNIKL       5  1  1  3  4  9  4
TENAGA      5  0  2  3  10 13 2

Sapura edge Tenaga to stay tops...

SAPURA Hockey Club edged Tenaga Nasional 2-1 to keep their grip in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League at the KLHA Stadium Friday.
  After 11 years missing out on silverware, Sapura end the first round at the top of the standings and are also in the running to play in the final of the Tan Sri P. Alagendra Cup.
  "Tenaga really made it difficult for us today (yesterday) and we barely collected the full points. But this is what we need, a big test on our defenders, before we start our second round journey," said coach Yahya Omar.
  Sapura meet SSTMI in the Alagendra Cup semi-finals on Tuesday, and it should be a walk in the park to make the final.
  The other semi-finals between Tenaga Nasional and Terengganu Hockey Team is expected to be a cracker.
  The Sapura goals were scored by Dangerous Lee (12th) and Azrul bin Hasbullah (19th) while Tenaga got theirs off Arif Sabron
in the 42nd minute.
  In another Premier Division match yesterday, Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) made the half-way mark of the MHL with a 3-1 win over Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) at the Batu Buruk Stadium.
  THT were leading 3-0 until the 56th minute when UniKL scored the consolation off Rafizul Ezry.
  The THT goals were scored by Nicolas Enrique (20th), Jang Jong Hyun (22nd) and Kim Junghoo (52nd).
  All three THT's goals were by foreign imports, while the last season's top scorer Faizal Shaari, with 17 goals, has yet to score a after five matches.
  "It was a much better game that the previous four, but still, my forwards keep missing sitters and this can't go on in the second leg if we want to finish among the top-three teams," said Sarjit.
  RESULTS -- Premier Division: Terengganu HT 3 UniKL 1, Tenaga Nasional 1 Sapura HC 2, Maybank 1 Kuala Lumpur HC 4.
  ALAGANDRA CUP Semi-finals: Sept 6: Tenaga Nasional v Terengganu HT (KLHA,6pm), SSTMI v Sapura (SSTMI, 6pm).


PREMIER DIVISION

            P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

SAPURA      5  4  0  1  11 7  12
KLHC        5  3  2  0  14 7  11
THT         5  2  1  2  13 10 7
MAYBANK     5  2  0  3  9  15 6
UNIKL       5  1  1  3  4  9  4
TENAGA      5  0  2  3  10 13 2