Over in 70 minutes...

TWENTY-SIX Project 2013 players will be involved in the Junior Hockey League (JHL) Overall title final at the Tun Razak Stadium in Kuala Lumpur today.
And who better to know their strengths and weaknesses, than Project 2013 coach K. Dharmaraj.
Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS) have 11 while UniKL have 15 Project players in the JHL final today.
UniKL sealed the League title narrowly on a four-goal margin over BPSS after both sides ended tied on 25 points, and their earlier clash ended in a 1-1 draw.
“If one looks back to the Myanmar Asia Cup Under-18 tournament (where Malaysia ended second behind Pakistan in 2009), UniKL only have two while BPSS have eight players from the silver medal winning side.
“However, out of the 15 Project players in UniKL, none of them were first choice material in the Under-18 tournament, while out of the 11 in BPSS, eight were core players in Myanmar,” reminded Dharmaraj.
But the 15 in UniKL have shown great determination, and marked improvement in the JHL.
“The strong point for UniKL is that all their players are of the same standard, and that makes their bench strong for substitution without breaking the match rhythm.
“As for BPSS, their eight Project players are of higher standard than the rest, and this could pose a problem when the coach decides to rest some of them. The bench is BPSS’ biggest weakness,” said Dharmaraj.
The coach, who will select the best to play in the World Cup Qualifier to be held in Malacca next May, predicts that penalty corners could well seal the match inside of 70 minutes.
“UniKL defender Zulhairi Hashim has really bloomed in the JHL and is the leading scorer with 17 penalty corner goals in 10 matches. He is a hitter, not a flicker when training with the Project side.
“On the other side, BPSS’ Shahril Saabah (14 goals) and Firhan Ashaari (10 goals, and played in the Azlan Shah Cup) could well turn the tide for the sports school.
“I predict a close final, and the winner would be decided in 70 minutes of play,” said Dharmaraj.
As for Zulhairi: “I have scored in all matches except against BPSS-Thunderbolt in the league. The team were banking on me to score then, but I failed to do so.
“The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Fortunately, we had the better goal difference than them to lift the Division One title for the first time.”
Zulhairi, who scored only three goals for UniKL last year, said that he was putting extra effort in training on his execution of the penalty corner drag flicks and hoped to get it right in the final.
“This is my last outing in the junior league and I want it to be a memorable one. I want to score in the final to help UniKL win the double for the first time,” he said.

Too close to call..

BANDAR Penawar Sports School (BPSS) and UniKL will square off in a classic Junior Hockey League (JHL) final, which will be too close to call, at the Tun Razak Stadium tomorrow.
BPSS and UniKL drew 1-1 in the League match, and the university side went on to lift the League title only on a four- goal average.
For the record, UniKL won the Overall title and finished second in the League last year behind BPSS, and this season won the League title and are chasing a double in only their second JHL season.
“We have two strong reasons to wrest the Overall title from UniKL because they dethroned us as League champions, and now we would like to return the favour in the Overall final.
“The second reason is that the final will be the last time we will be playing under the BPSS banner, as next year the school’s name will be changed to Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School,” said BPSS coach Wan Roslan.
As for UniKL, they want to claim a double, and also prove to the hockey fraternity that their players have been groomed for the senior league.
“Of course we will be playing for the double on Saturday as it will be a feather in our cap as we are only two seasons-old in the JHL.
“However, the our bigger aim is to show that fielding players in the JHL has made them matured enough to play and make an impact in the Malaysia Hockey League next season, as that is the bigger picture that we have been planning for,” said UniKL manager Amir Azhar.
UniKL have fifteen Project 2013 players, while BPSS have 11 Project players -- making it really difficult for the coaches to plan for a surprise.
“Both the teams are basically made up of Project 2013 players and they know each others strengths and weak nesses.
“That is why I believe the team which comes up with a jolt, a surprise set-piece in the penalty corners, could land the title,” said UniKL coach S. Velappan.
UniKL have yet to be beaten since they started playing in the JHL, and they want to keep the proud record.
“We have some draws, but we never lost a match since making our debut in the JHL. And we would play to keep that record and hopefully achieve the double in style,” said Amir.
BPSS have scored a total of 59 goals, with 44 coming from field, 13 from penalty corners and two from penalty strokes. Their top scorer is Shahril Saabah who six field and eight penalty corner goals.
As for UniKL, they also scored a total of 59 goals with 30 coming from field, 27 from penalty corners and two from penalty strokes.
The university side’s top scorer is Zulhairi Hashim who tucke in a massive 17 penalty corners into the net.
SATURDAY -- Third-Fourth: Bandar Penawar Sports School Juniors v Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors (Tun Razak Stadium, 6pm).
Final: Bandar Penawar Sports School v UniKL (Tun Razak Stadium, 8pm).

Achtung! in semis..

DEFENDING champions UniKL and Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS)-Thunderbolts are expected to treat their in-form opponents with respect and caution in the Junior Hockey League semi-finals today.
UniKL, led by 12 players from the Project 2013 squad, face Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors (BJSS Jnrs) while BPSS Thunderbolts play BPSS Jnrs, both at the Tun Razak Stadium.
UniKL team manager Amir Azhar Ibrahim warned his players not to be complacent.
"Our key players failed to perform in our 9-0 quarter-final victory over MSSP-USM (Friday). The two-week lay-off after the last league game affected our play as our core players were with the Project 2013 squad," said Amir Azhar yesterday.
"We, however, have a good idea of our opponents' strengths and weaknesses, having beaten them 6-0 in the league stage."
Amir Azhar also hopes his side will kill-off their opponents with early goals.
"We must also score early to open up the game. We have to play quick and score goals as soon as possible," he added.
BJSS Jnrs, marshaled by six players from the national Under-16 squad, are out to uphold their school's proud track record in the tournament.
"We will neither hold back nor play cautiously. I want my players to maintain their discipline and focus on a good result," said BJSS Jnrs coach Lokman Yahaya.
He said his players must play without fear against UniKL.
"We need to play in such a way that will limit our opponents from scoring many goals. It will be tough but my players are also in a confident mood," added Lokman.
The other semi-final between BPSS-Thunderbolts and BPSS is also expected to be a fiery affair.
BPSS Jnrs coach Mohd Fakhrulnizam Baharuddin said his team will go all out to scalp the senior team.
"We must not show them too much respect. If we can upset BJSS then doing it again against our senior team is not impossible," he said.
Semi-finals -- Today: UniKl v BJSS Jnrs (4pm), BPSS Jnrs v BPSS-Thunderbolts (6pm) -- matches at Tun Razak Stadium -- AJITPAL SINGH

Sixth title for Australia, barely...

RESULTS -- Fifth-Sixth: South Korea 2 India 1; Third-Fourth: New Zealand 2 Great Britain 4; Final: Pakistan 2 Australia 3.

WORLD No 1 Australia were made to sweat buckets before edging Pakistan 3-2 in sudden-death play to win their sixth Azlan Shah Cup title in Ipoh last night.
World campions Australia never looked like they had the first half in hand, as Asian Games champions Pakistan ran rings around them with skilful and speedy forward Shakeel Abbasi leading the counter attacks.
However, Australia got the lucky break they were looking for when Christopher Ciriello scored off their second penalty corner in the 11th minute. It was a powerful grounder which caught the entire defense napping.
But instead of dominating, the Australians were forced to defend in numbers as Pakistan kept attacking in waves, only to miss a handful of sitters.
Pakistan could not score off their first penalty corner, and the second they received in the 31st minute also almost went to waste.
Skipper Muhammad Imran failed to trap the ball, but kept possession and made a deft pass to Sohail Abbas on his left and the penalty corner world record holder dragged in a powerful flick for the equaliser.
Australia, playing at half their capabilities, still managed to re-take the lead when Glenn Turner was given an acre of space to run in the 44th minute, and slam the ball in with ease.
But still, Pakistan kept on playing super hockey and in the 62nd minute, Rehan Butt made it 2-2 from close range, after Shakeel made another brilliant run and made a piercing pass to him to take the match into sudden-death extra-time.
Australia made it count in the sudden-death, when Ciriello nailed the winner off a penalty corner attempt in the 81st minute.
In the bronze fight, Olympic hosts Great Britain came back from a goal down to beat New Zealand 4-2.
The Britain goals were scored by Richard Mantell (34th), Robert Moore (51st), Richard Smith (59th), Matthew Daly (65th).
Stephen Jenness scored for the Kiwis in the 20th minute, while Blair Hilton's 69th minute effort was a little too late to salvage the match.
And when last year's joint finalists India and South Korea clashed in the first match if the day, the Koreans were more motivated and won 2-1.
The Korean goals were scored by Nam Hyun Woo (11th), Jang Jong Hyun (21st).
Vikram Pillay socred India's goal in the 41st minute.

Brits land Azlan Shah Cup bronze

In the bronze fight, Olympic hosts Great Britain came back from a goal down to beat New Zealand 4-2.

The Britain goals were scored by Richard Mantell (34th), Robert Moore (51st), Richard Smith (59th), Matthew Daly (65th).

Stephen Jenness scored for the Kiwis in the 20th minute, while Blair Hilton's 69th minute effort was a little too late to salvage the match.

And when last year's joint finalists India and South Korea clashed in the first match if the day, the Koreans were more motivated and won 2-1.

The Korean goals were scored by Nam Hyun Woo (11th), Jang Jong Hyun (21st).

Vikram Pillay socred India's goal in the 41st minute.

RESULTS -- Fifth-Sixth: South Korea 2 India 1; Third-Fourth: New Zealand 2 Great Britain 4; Final: Pakistan x Australia x.