Favourites BJSS continue march

BSS Jr’s Muhammad Aidil Zainal (front) is hassled by Setapak High’s Mohd Hakimi Zulkifli in their Malaysia Hockey League match at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium on Friday. Setapak won 3-1. — Pic: MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN

BUKIT Jalil Sports School (BJSS) have re-claimed the favourites tag after beating Tenaga Nasional, but they still have at least four more hurdles to overcome before it is smooth sailing for them in Division Two of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).

For starters, BJSS have Anderson School of Ipoh to contend with today.
"I am glad that my team showed some mettle in the win against Tenaga, but we still have many more matches to play in the MHL.
"It was a bruising encounter (against Tenaga) and after a day's rest, the boys will need to return to form against Anderson, who I believe will be looking to erase the defeat against Olak," said BJSS coach S. Prakash.
Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak) found it difficult to subdue a fighting Anderson, and lost three players to injury, before beating Anderson 2-1 on Friday.
"Anderson this year are very robust, and three of my players had to be taken out and received stitches on their faces.
"I believe Anderson will be difficult to beat after this, and should trouble BJSS tomorrow (today)," said Olak team manager Joseph de Silva.
Setapak High School, whose only poor result thus far is the 0-0 draw against Kijang Mas of Kelantan, Bandar Penawar Sports School, and Olak are among the other teams BJSS need to tame before they can start dreaming of standing at the top of the podium again.
BJSS, double champions last year, have a collection of 10 titles under their belt -- six League and four Overall -- and are looking for more silverware even though they have fielded Under-17 boys in the Under-19 MHL.
TODAY -- Division One: Bukit Jalil Sports School v Anderson (Tun Razak Stadium, 5pm), Kijang Mas v Petaling Jaya CC (Kuala Terengganu, 5pm), Malacca v Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors (Malacca, 5pm), Bandar Penawar SS v Batu Pahat (Bandar Penawar, 5pm).
Division Three: Nur Insafi v TBSS-Tampin (Sungai Petani, 5pm), Penang v Perlis (USM, 5pm), Datuk Taha v Temerloh (Tampin, 5pm), Selangor v English College (Pandamaran , 3pm), Kuala Selangor v Matri (Pandamaran, 5pm).

Zeeshan Ashraf set to skipper Pakistan

By Khalid Hussain

KARACHI: Seasoned defender Zeeshan Ashraf is all set to return as Pakistan captain in the five-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Malaysia in April, writes Khalid Hussain.
Sources told ‘The News’ that when Pakistan will select their 18-man squad for the Azlan Shah Cup in the second half of March, Zeeshan is most likely to get a recall as captain.
The Quetta-based Zeeshan, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Saturday (tomorrow), led Pakistan in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing last August but was ‘rested’ for the four-nation Hamburg Masters in Germany — Pakistan’s last international assignment. Striker Shakeel Abbasi was appointed as captain for the Hamburg quadrangular last October.
Zeeshan was included in a list of 40 odd players selected in the preliminary squad for the Azlan Shah Cup to be played in Ipoh from April 6-12.
He is one of the senior most players in the pool and is all set to be recalled in the national team that will be selected after trials next month.
Also in contention for captaincy are former skipper Muhamnmad Saqlain, who has impressed team officials with his fitness during the ongoing camp.
However, Saqlain is infamous for his temperamental nature and it is more likely that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will opt for Zeeshan as the Pakistan captain for the Malaysian tour.
Former champions Pakistan will join New Zealand (world No 7), India (11th), Malaysia (15) and Egypt (20th) in the Azlan Shah Cup. They will open their title campaign with a match against hosts Malaysia on April 6.
The provisional squad for the Ipoh assignment is currently preparing for the tournament at the National Stadium in Lahore.
Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan told ‘The News’ on Thursday that he and fellow coaches are working hard on helping the players improve their fitness during the ongoing conditioning camp.
He said that most of the 38 players currently attending the camp are undergoing strenuous training sessions and hoped that Pakistan will be able to raise a strong team for the Ipoh contest.
A total of 42 players were picked in the provisional squad but four senior players are unavailable for the Azlan Shah Cup because of their club commitments in The Netherlands. Drag flick ace Sohail Abbas, striker Rehan Butt, midfielder Waseem Ahmed and goal-keeper Salman Akber have been exempted from the training camp and the Ipoh assignment by the PHF.
Pakistan have decided to use the Azlan Shah Cup as a warm-up event for this May’s Asia Cup to be held in Dubai.
The Asia Cup to be played from May 8-15 will serve as the qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup in India. The new Asia Cup winners will earn a direct spot for the quadrennial spectacle.
“Our sights are set on the Asia Cup and all our planning is being carried out in a way that we take a team to Dubai that is good enough to win the title,” said Shahid, a former Olympian.

BJSS pull the plug on Tenaga

BPSS Juniors’ Muhammad Amirul Aided Md Arshad (left) takes on Setapak High’s Muhammad Aidil Zainal in their Malaysia Hockey League match at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium yesterday. Setapak won 3-1. Pix: MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN

DOUBLE champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) brushed aside title contenders Tenaga Nasional 3-2 yesterday to remain on track for a glorious finish in Division Two of the Malaysia Hockey League.

Playing at the Tun Razak Stadium, BJSS -- made up of Under-17 players, drew first blood but allowed Tenaga to lead 2-1 before coming back strongly to seal the match.
Hairulnizam Maizan gave BJSS the lead in the eighth minute, but a brace from Sabri Mohamed in the 12th and 16th minutes, off penalty corners, gave Tenaga a brief lifeline.
Dangerous Lee Mathew re-ignited the fire in BJSS when he equalised from an acute angle in the 24th minute, and Fahed Saifullah sealed the match with a 62nd minute stinger.
"It was a close encounter, and the turning point was when Dangerous equalised. My boys started playing with more confidence, and we have moved a step closer to the title," said BJSS coach S. Prakash. But Prakash said their work is far from finished.
"We still have eight more matches to play, and from what I have seen, Anderson, Olak and a few other teams have come in well prepared this year."
BJSS players were falling like ten-pins, as cramps hit them hard in the last 10 minutes of the match, indicating that their fitness is still not up to the mark.
RESULTS -- Division One: Bukit Jalil Sports School 3 Tenaga Nasional 2, Petaling Jaya City Council 3 Malacca 2, Kijang Mas 0 Batu Pahat 2, Olak 2 Anderson 1, Bandar Penawar Sports School 2 BJSS Juniors 0, Setapak High 3 BPSS Juniors 1.
Division Three: Matri 3 Temerloh 4, Nur Insafi 2 English College 0, Penang 4 Datuk Taha 3, TBSS-Tampin 5 Kuala Selangor 1, Selangor 2 Perlis 5.
TOMORROW -- Division One: Bukit Jalil Sports School v Anderson (Tun Razak Stadium, 5pm), Kijang Mas v Petaling Jaya CC (Terengganu, 5pm), Malacca v Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors (Malacca, 5pm), Bandar Penawar SS v Batu Pahat (Bandar Penawar, 5pm).
Division Three: Nur Insafi v TBSS-Tampin (Sungai Petani, 5pm), Penang v Perlis (USM, 5pm), Datuk Taha v Temerloh (Tampin, 5pm), Selangor v English College (Pandamaran , 3pm), Kuala Selangor v Matri (Pandamaran, 5pm).

Anderson better prepared

They have won the Champion Schools title 11 times but their best finish in the Junior League was a third place in 2002. A year before they finished fourth.
But after the opening weekend of matches, things are looking up for the Ipoh team as they won both their ties -- against Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Kijang Mas Kelantan.
Not only did the wins boost their morale, but the win over MBPJ was their first-ever over the Klang Valley team since playing in the JHL. The two early wins are unique as Anderson have never made a good start in the JHL.
"This is the best start we have ever had and I hope we will be able to collect at least four points from our matches this weekend," said coach Mokhtar Baharuddin.
"In particular I am pleased with our performance against MBPJ as my players tend to have a mental block when playing them. The win over MBPJ was what we were looking for to kick-start our campaign on a positive note."
But Mokhtar, who has eight players from last year's squad, knows that this weekend will be a test of character for his team. Anderson take on Olak in Klang on Friday before playing BJSS Under 17 at the Tun Razak Stadium on Sunday.
"It is not going to be easy playing Olak in Klang as they play very well at home with the crowd behind them. But I am optimistic we have the ability to nick all three points if the players reproduce their form," Mokhtar added.
"As for BJSS, it will be difficult but I am counting of getting at least a point off them. They have some experienced players in their ranks and will start as favourites."
Mokhtar said that while Anderson always did well in the Champion Schools, they found it tough to transfer their form to the JHL.
"This is due to the fact that we can only utilise players who are still in school," said Mokhtar, who has coached Anderson in the JHL since 1997.
"The clubsides have an advantage as they can field older players. Still, I am hoping for better fortune this time around."
FRIDAY -- Division Two: BJSS v TNB (6pm); Tun Razak Stadium); MBPJ v MSN Malacca (8pm); Tun Razak Stadium); Kijang Mas v MSJ MPBP (5pm); Kuala Terengganu); OLAK v Anderson (5pm); Pandamaran Stadium); BPSS v BJSS Jnr (5pm); BPSS Stadium); Setapak High v BPSS Jnr (6pm); Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium).
Division Three: Matri v SSP Temerloh (5pm); Kangar); Nur Insafi v MSAB (5pm); Sg Petani Hockey Stadium); MSS Penang v SMKDMT (5pm); USM Stadium); TBSS v SMK PP (5pm); Tampin Stadium); MSS Selangor v MSSPs/PHPs (3pm); Pan damaran Stadium).
SUNDAY -- Division Two: BJSS v Anderson (5pm); Tun Razak Stadium); Kijang Mas v MBPJ (5pm); Kuala Terengganu); MSN Malacca v BJSS Jnr (5pm); Malacca); BPSS v MSJ MPBP (5pm); BPSS Stadium)
Division Three: Nur Insafi v TBSS (5pm); Sg Petani); MSS Penang v MSSPs/PHPs (5pm); USM Stadium); SMKDMT v SSP Temerloh (5pm); Tampin); MSS Selangor v MSAB (3pm); Pandamaran Stadium); SMK PP v MATRI (5pm); Pandamaran Stadium).

Beng Hai gets early support

The national trainees are briefed before the start of a training session yesterday. — Pic: MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN

TAI Beng Hai has passed his first test with flying colours as the national hockey coach.

This assessment was made by the National Sports Council (NSC), which received positive feedback from the 30 trainees in the squad and other coaching staff.
NSC director general Datuk Zolkples Embong said the players are happy that Beng Hai is emphasising on fitness.
"This is a good response from the players and I hope Beng Hai will keep up his good work. Fitness is the most important factor to attain success in sports," said Zolkples yesterday.
"Teams like South Korea are successful because of their superior fitness. We are happy to have someone like Beng Hai pushing the players to the limits in training.
"The national team have yet to play in tournaments under Beng Hai but I reckon they will be better prepared this time around when they play in the Azlan Shah Cup."
The April 6-12 tournament is Beng Hai's first major assignment and the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) expects the team to, at least, make the final.
New Zealand, Pakistan, India and Egypt are the other teams in the event.
The Azlan Shah Cup result will give Beng Hai a clearer picture on where his players stand ahead of the Asia Cup in Dubai (May 8-15), where the champions will qualify automatically for the 2010 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the national team will be without several key players when they leave for a playing tour in South Korea on Saturday.
Key players -- S. Kumar, Sharun Nabil, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Abdul Jalil, Muhd Razie Rahim, Zulkifli Rejab and S.Selvaraju -- are among the 12 players left out.
Kumar is getting married on March 21 while Sharun's wife is expecting their first child on March 25.
The others are currently undergoing rehabilitation for various injuries.
The team will play seven matches against club and university teams. The tour ends on March 11.