NATIONAL player Shahril Saabah scored a last minute goal to hand Tenaga Nasional an upset 3-3 draw over Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) Wednesday.
All-local outfit Tenaga were 0-2 down by the 19th minute, but played a super game after the second half to hold KHLC who have four foreign imports and nine national players at their disposal.
The draw saw KLHC back on level terms with Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) on 30 points with two more matches to decide the League champions.
"We had noting to lose and gave our very best against KLHC to try and finish third in the League. Credit to my players who did not give up until the last second to steal a point from favourites KLHC," said Tenaga coach Amin Rahim.
On Sunday, Universiti Kuala Lumpur and THT played to a 2-2 draw which faoured KLHC to lift the title, but today the cards changed hands again after KLHC drew with Tenaga.
THT have two more matches to complete their leage -- aganst Maybank and KLHC next weekend.
While KLHC have UniKL before playing THT for the title.
KLHC coach Ahmad Anuar Sham said: "It was an unfortunate draw with a last minute equaliser. Now, we have two more tough matches to win if we want to lay our hands on the League title."
For the record THT are the defending League and Overall title holders.
Yesterday, Anton Poul Fritz (15th), Rashid Baharom (19th) and Casey Dawsond (57th) scored for KLHC, while Najib Abu Hassan (22nd), Azammi Adabi (38th) and Shahril Saabah (60th) delivered for Tenaga.
RESULTS: Kuala Lumpur HC 3 Tenaga Nasional 3, Terengganu Hockey Team 3 TNB Thunderbolts 0,
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Monday, February 13, 2017
Fiji ready for Dhaka World League
NOTE: Fiji are in Group A with Malaysia, Oman and Bangladesh.
In Group B are China, Ghana, Egypt and Sri Lanka.
NATIONAL hockey men's team is ready for the Hockey World League Round 2 which will held in Bangladesh on March 4-12.
The Fiji Hockey Association president Robin Mitchell said they faced problems with the funding for the tournament in terms of transportation and levy for the players. However, it had been sorted out.
"We had both teams qualified, but the women's team were to go to Malaysia last month, but after looking at our situation we decided not to go.
"The women have higher chances of improving their rankings in the Oceania Cup in Sydney, Australia in October," Mitchell said.
"The main purpose of the competition is to get our team qualified for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia next year.
"We have decided to focus on the men's team as they are ranked 18th in the Commonwealth Games.
Mitchell said the players had been preparing well with the coach Hector Smith.
"The funding is going on quite well as we have paid our air tickets and it is those little things which adds up that we have to address and we would prefer to have money because there are also ongoing programs," he added.
"We also have got the under-18 qualification for the Youth Olympic Games. We have selected the squad after a secondary school competition.
"We are leaving in two and a half weeks and we have got confirmation of the grants given where the levy of the players is paid and we are also doing our own fundraising."
The team leaves for Bangladesh on March 1.
The Fiji Times
The Malaysian puzzle...
By Jugjet Singh
COLUMN
THERE is so much of hockey being played around the country that it's puzzling why Malaysia are still ranked 13th in the World.
Hockey is not only a sport, but its also a big money-making industry, from the millions needed to lay an artificial pitch to the equipment which has undergone tremendous change over the years.
A good hockey stick ranges from RM400 to RM1,500 -- one for the development players, the other for state and national players or those whose parents can afford it.
Goalkeepers equipment (cheapest RM3,000), balls, shin pads, mouth guards, artificial pitch shoes, socks, field bookings right up to the refreshments during the break all cost a bomb these days.
Not to mention the coaches salaries from the highest level to the grassroots -- all 1,500 certified coaches according to the last study done in 1997, after which no study was conducted for latest numbers.
But still, it has not stopped hockey from mushrooming around the country.
Take for exmple the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium in Japan Pantai.
Yesterday, as usual, it was packed with hockey players of all standards and sizes.
The KLHA Under-16 squad started at 8am to train for the National Under-16 squad which will be held on March 18-26 at the same venue.
This was followed by a friendly match between Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak) with Malaysian Indian Sports and Cultural Foundation-Universal Fitness & Leisure (MISCF-UFL)
They were preparing for the Junior Hockey League which is slated to start on March 31.
But even before Olak and MISCF-UFL packed their bags, Convent Bukit Nanas girls walked onto the picth -- and it was blazing hot at 12 noon.
And later in the evening, there was 1Mas training followed by the Malaysia Hockey League Premier Division matches.
Hockey whole day, and almost every day at every artificial pitch around the country for the last five years but we're still 13th in the World.
So, its a real puzzle as there is plenty of action at the grassroots but still, the eight Premier Division teams struggle to find quality local players and need to hire foreign imports.
But the imports have not shown any signs of being better than the locals, expect for Jang Jong Hyung from South Korea, who has scored 19 goals for Terengganu Hockey Team to place them at the top of the table.
However, Malaysia have a super chance of moving up the rankings when they play in the World League Round Two match in Dhaka on March 4-12.
With the other teams in Dhaka being of mediocre standard, Malaysia should win gold again like they did in the World League Round Two in Singapore by whipping Poland 8-0 in the final.
And with the World Cup being a 16-team format, Malaysia are almost a sure bet to play in India in 2018 and improrve on their rankings.
But even if they don't qualify for the World Cup, hockey will still be played at a furious state at the grassroots and clubs and MHL as well as JHL, Razak Cup, Azlan Shah Cup, Sultan of Johor Cup, Alagendra Cup, Malaysia Games, Under-14, Under-16, 1Mas tournaments -- and the expensive equipments will still be purchased at a furious state for the next five years and counting.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
UniKL: Glory or bust...
UNIVERSITI Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) will be on a road to glory or bust when they play table-toppers Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League Sunday.
In the first round, THT won 3-0 with goals from Nicolas Enrique, Jang Jong Hyun and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin.
Jang has went on to become the League top-scorer with 19 goals, while Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin is second on nine goals. This are the two dangerous players that UniKL must stop.
THT coach Sarjit Singh acknowledges it will not be easy in the return leg.
"UniKL have started to show their fangs and it would be foolish to ride on the first leg victory. We need maximum points in our remaining matches to defend our League title, and that's what we will play for against UniKL," said Sarjit.
UniKL ate currently in third place on the standings with 22 points and missed out a chance of putting more distance between them and fourth-placed Tenaga Nasional after a 0-0 draw against TNB Thunderbolts on Wednesday.
They however, did very well to beat Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) 7-0 on Friday.
But THT are in a class of their own and UniKL realise that it will be a David versus Goliath task to get something out of the match.
"A point is all we are after and I am being realistic about it," said UniKL coach Arul Selvaraj.
"THT are in a class of their own and with the title race so close they will be at their best,
"But make no mistake, we have the ability to pull the rug from beneath their feet and I expect a close match."
Joint-leaders Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) are expected to win full points, and maybe even a high number of goals, when they play bottom placed SSTMI today.
SUNDAY: UniKL v Terengganu HT (KLHA, 6pm), UiTM-KPT v Tenaga Nasional (Tun RAzak, 8pm), SSTMI v Kuala Lumpur HC (SSTMI, 7pm), Maybank v TNB Thunderbolts (Malacca, 6pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
T'GGANU HT 10 8 2 0 61 7 26
KLHC 10 8 2 0 47 14 26
UNIKL 10 7 1 2 31 10 22
TENAGA 10 5 3 2 26 15 18
MAYBANK 10 3 1 6 19 31 10
THUNDERBOLTS 10 3 1 6 19 35 10
UITM-KPT 10 0 1 9 13 57 1
SSTMI 10 0 1 9 5 52 1
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Inspector Sahabs: Razie, Nabil make grand entry...
KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) received a new lease of life when their two ace Policemen finally graduated, and returned to the hockey pitch.
National No 1 penalty corner flicker Razie Rahim and midfielder Nabil Fiqri graduated into inspectors from Pulapol on Feb 4, and on Wednesday they helped demolish UitM-KPT 9-1.
Razie scored a brace in his first Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) outing this season.
The win, and double champion Terengganu Hockey Team's 1-1 draw against Tenaga Nasional, has placed both the teams on 23 points after nine matches.
THT only lead the standings by a 15-goal margin.
KLHC had registered both the players, but could not field them in the first leg as they had to undergo a nine-month training to become inspectors.
"Razie and Nabil are experienced players and their entry into KLHC could not have come at a better time. Now I believe we have a fighting chance to lift the League title," said KLHC manager Ahmad Anuar Sham.
With Razie in defense and penalty corners, and Nabil in midfield, KLHC are the team to beat in the Premier Division now.
"We not only need to win, but score as many goals as possible to catch up with THT. However, I believe the title will be decided in the last match of the League on Feb 19," said Anuar.
That's the day KLHC will meet THT in the second leg. In the first leg, the match ended 2-2 with KLHC claiming the Charity Shield 6-5 on penalties.
Only the draw counted for points, while the shoot-out was for the Shield.
National seniors coach Stephen van Huizen still has his eyes on both the players, who last represented the country in the Asian Champions Trophy in October last year where Malaysia finished third.
"Both the players have been coming for fitness training even when they were in Pulapol for their Police training. They are an asset and will be considered for the Dhaka World League (Round Two, from March 4-12).
Both KLHC and THT are expected to win full points against Maybank and UiTM-KPT respectively today.
TODAY: UiTM-KPT v Terengganu HT (Tun Razak, 6pm), TNB Thunderbolts v Tenaga Nasional (SSTMI, 5pm), SSTMI v UniKL (SSTMI, 7pm), Kuala Lumpur HC v Maybank (KLHA, 6pm).
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
T'GGANU HT 9 7 2 0 49 5 23
KLHC 9 7 2 0 43 14 23
UNIKL 9 6 1 2 24 10 19
TENAGA 9 4 3 2 22 14 15
MAYBANK 9 3 1 5 19 27 10
THUNDERBOLTS 9 3 1 5 18 31 10
UITM-KPT 9 0 1 8 11 45 1
SSTMI 9 0 1 8 5 45 1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
