SAPURA TERUSKAN MOMENTEM KEMENANGAN

SAPURA enhanced their position at the top of Division Two A when they defeated PHK-MSS Kelantan 6-0 in the MHC-MILO-NSC Junior Hockey League match at the KL Hockey Stadium this evening.

In Division One, SSTMI-Thunderbolts hammered Petaling Jaya Municipal Council 6-1 at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru to consolidate their position at the top of the standings.

At the Ministry of Education Stadium, MBI-Anderson defeated Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors 4-2.

Sapura took the lead in the 20th minute through Mohd Soffian Kamaruddin. And two minutes later Soffian was on the mark again to double the advantage for Sapura.

Muhd Abdul Wafi  Md Zaini made it 3-0 in the 25th minute to give them a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.

There was no stopping Sapura as they scored at will, with Muhammad Farid Md Zuki converting a penalty stroke in the 43rd minute. Harmesh Singh scored a penalty corner in the 56th minute to make it 5-0 before Mohd Ammar Ady Abdul Rahman made it 6-0 in the 64th minute.

SSTMI took the lead in the 3rd minute through Muhd Sufi Ismat Rohulmin. And in the 15th minute Muhd Shahril Saabah converted a penalty corner to make it 2-0.

At the stroke of halftime, Muhd Shafiq Nordin made it 3-0 also through a penalty corner.

The Johor side kept the pressure and were duly rewarded two minutes upon the second half resumption through another penalty corner goal, this time Amir Zulkarnain finding the mark.

Further goals from Sufi (41st minute) and Shahrushadan Basri (57th minute) gave SSTMI a 6-0 lead before PJCC scored a consolation through Ganeisha Tamil Chelvam in the 62nd minute.At Pantai , the Ipoh side took the lead in the 12th minute through Muhd Hussaini Mohd Husin who converted a penalty corner. And in the 19th minute Muhd Akmal Mohd Tajuddin found the mark to double the adbvantage for MBI-Anderson.

However BJSS Juniors reduced the deficit in the 21st minute when Muhd Ramdan Arifin scored from a penalty corner. They were on level terms in the 56th minute when K. Divanisharan found the mark.

A late surge by MBI-Anderson gave them all three points as goals from Mohd Ashran Hamsani ( 58th minute) and Muhd Akmal (64th minute) ensured a final score of 4-2 in favour of the visitors.

In Division Two B, Malacca High School defeated SMK Padang Midin 2-1. Goals for MHS were scored by Luqman Nurhakim Saiful (53rd minute) and Muhd Hanif Abdul Razak (61st minute) with Padang Midin scoring the consolation in the 68th minute via Mohd Khairul Anuar Zakaria.

In Johor Baru, MSP-Yayasan Pahang defeated Batu Pahat Municipal Council also with a 2-1 scoreline. And Politeknik KPT trashed MSSSPP USM Juniors 9-0 .

SUMBER : MHJL.COM

ANDERSON-ICC JOINED FORCES FOR MJHL

KUALA LUMPUR: Perak’s two representatives in the Malaysia Junior Hockey League (MJHL) – SM Anderson and Ipoh City Council (ICC) – have decided to join forces to mount a serious challenge for the Division One crown this year.

Both Anderson and ICC played in Division One last year. Anderson , a regular since the MJHL started in 1995, finished fifth while ICC ended up in ninth spot.

The Anderson-ICC team are now hoping that the joint talent and financial effort will prove beneficial. The team will be coached by ICC’s Dalbir Singh and Anderson’s Mohamed Nizam Mohamed Hashim.

Assistant team manager Whinis­ten David Sager, an ICC representative, lauded the move.

“We had a young team in the fray last year. We were lucky to play in Division One as we finished third in Division Two in 2009. Sabah, who were the runners-up, did not take part and their place was given to us,” said Whinisten.

“But this time our bosses wanted us to look at a joint team with Anderson to put up a stronger team. It’s a good move,” added Whinisten.

The Anderson-ICC team will have three key players from the 2017 Project (National Under-16) squad to spearhead their challenge. They are the Project team skipper Mohamed Najib, Ashran Hamsani and Asril Misron.

“We are not going to set any specific target. Our aim is to finish as high as possible. We want to put up a creditable show. The bulk of the players will come from SM Anderson,” said Whinisten.

Anderson-ICC are probably taking the cue from Bandar Penawar Sports School joining forces with Tenaga Nasional. The two sides combined to form BPSS-Thunderbolt and they won the title for the last two years to end Bukit Jalil Sports School’s (BJSS) domination.

The merger of Anderson-ICC means there will be one team fewer in the MJHL, which begins on Jan 19.

The closing for entries is Friday. The Malaysian Hockey Con­federation (MHC), however, are still hoping to have 24 teams – the same number as last season.

But there are indications that a few new entries, like Sapura, are expected to sign up. A number of teams who skipped the league last year are also expected to make a return.

SUMBER : THE STAR.COM

JUARA BERTAHAN UNIKL BERMULA PERLAHAN

KUALA LUMPUR - Juara bertahan liga, UniKL Young Guns bermula dengan agak getir manakala juara keseluruhan, SSTMI-Thunderbolt mempamerkan kegarangan ketika masing-masing membuka tirai Liga Hoki Remaja Malaysia 2012, semalam.

Ketika UniKL sekadar mencapai kemenangan 2-1 ke atas MBPJ di Stadium Hoki Kuala Lumpur, tiada belas langsung diberikan SSTMI-Thunderbolt yang membelasah rakan sekolah, Remaja SSTMI 7-1 di Stadium Taman Daya, Johor Bahru.

UniKL mendahului menerusi N. Kaatigan seawal minit keenam tetapi menunggu sehingga minit ke-53 untuk gol kedua daripada Muhd. Haziq Samsul sebelum dirapatkan pemain MBPJ, T.C. Ganeisha, minit ke-64.

Pesta jaringan SSTMI-Thunderbolt di Johor Bahru pula dicatatkan dengan dua gol oleh Aminuddin Zain selain masing-masing satu sumbangan Afzanizam Zakaria, Sufi Ismat Rohulamin, Khairul Shafik Kasim, Shafiq Nordin dan Shahril Saabah.

Adegan sama turut berlaku di Stadium Kementerian Pelajaran, Kuala Lumpur apabila SSBJ membelasah rakan sekolahnya, Remaja SSBJ 6-0 hasil jaringan hatrik Redzhwan Jaffar selain satu daripada Fitri Ismail, Azrul Hasbullah dan Shahiram Zali.

Jurulatih UniKL Young Guns, K. Enbaraj berkata, apa yang penting ialah kemenangan pada perlawanan sulung walaupun ada beberapa muka baru mengambil masa untuk menyesuaikan diri.

Bekas pemain kebangsaan ini berkata, "kami menguasai 90 peratus permainan tadi namun perlu mengatasi banyak kelemahan khususnya dari segi penyudahan sama ada menerusi gerakan padang mahupun sudut penalti.

Malaysia dominate, but end up losing to Australia in opener

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia did all the attacking but it was Australia who walked away with a 2-1 win in their Sultan of Johor Cup hockey match at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium here yesterday.

A goal in each half – by William Shaw (21st minute penalty) and Josh Waters (62nd) – was enough to earn the Aussies full points in this six-nation junior meet.

Malaysia, who only found the mark in the 70th minute through Zulhairi Mohd Hashim, will have to improve their finishing as well as penalty corner conversions if they intend to win the title.

Waltzing through: Malaysia’s Faiz Helmi Jali (right) dribbling past Flynn Ogilvie (left) and William Shaw of Australia in their Sultan of Johor Cup match at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium yesterday. – ABDUL RAHMAN EMBONG / The Star.

The Malaysians take on New Zealand today knowing that only a win will keep them in sight of a top-two finish.

Malaysia went on the attack from the first whistle against Australia but Mohd Ramadhan had couple of early chances which he sent wide.

But the game turned to Australia’s favour when they earned their first penalty corner in the 21st minute.

A high flick towards goal hit Zulhairi Mohd Hashim’s body, earning the Aussies a penalty stroke.

Shaw stepped up and flicked the ball past goalkeeper Mohd Hafizuddin Othman for the opening goal.

That goal sparked the Australians into action and they began to call the shot, earning three more penalty corners in the first-half.

Malaysia began the second half the way they started the first – in attack mode – and dominated the proceedings, only to find Australian goalkeeper Johan Durst in inspired form.

The hosts even had three penalty corners but all came to nought.

Then, in the 62nd minute – and against the run of play – the Australians snatched a second goal though Waters off a quick counter attack.

Undaunted, Malaysia fought on and it was only in the last-minute that they managed to break the duck, thanks to a penalty corner goal by Zulhairi.

Dharmaraj was happy with his boys’ performance, although he felt they should have at least earned a draw judging by the numerous chances created.

“We just couldn’t put away the chances. It was a good learning experience for the boys. The Australians played hard but we had better chances. Now we need to regroup and try to beat New Zealand,” he said.

THE STAR ONLINE