Saturday, September 29, 2012

Another title beckons KLHC


KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) lifted their maiden  Malaysia Hockey League title in 2006, and went on to romp  away with their seventh League title on Friday with a match  in hand.
   However, they have not been so lucky in their double  attempts, as they only have three which they won in 2008,  2010 and 2011.
    Sapura (2006) and Tenaga Nasional (2007, 2009) denied  them a clean sweep of titles in epic finals.
    So, naturally, team manager George Koshy is optimistic,  but not overly confident of another mammoth feat.
    “We started off as Ernst and Young and evolved to KLHC  and have seven League and three Overall titles since 2006.
    “But looking back, even with the best available players in  the country, we were denied three Overall titles by Sapura  and Tenaga,” said Koshy.
    But the final beckons KLHC again, as they will be either  paired with Sapura or Maybank in the two-leg semi-finals.
   KLHC and Tenaga Nasional are seeded, while Sapura and  Maybank will draw lots today to determine who they meet in  the last four.
   “Frankly speaking, I would prefer to play Maybank be cause Sapura have improved much in the return leg matches.  They even held Tenaga Nasional (2-2) and are a patient side  which defends well and then mounts fast attacks.
    “And with a two-leg semi-finals, this could prove to be  dangerous,” said Koshy.
     Koshy, who is also the national seniors team manager, then  changed hats and spoke about the national team’s se lection.
    “Coach Paul Revington is keen to recall several old-timers  after watching them in the MHL. He will select 30 trainees,  and about six of them would be former players who still have  it in them,” said Koshy.
    Former internationals Chua Boon Huat, Ismail Abu, Amin  Rahim and Madzli Ikmar are being courted to return for the  Champions Challenge I in Argentina.
   “Some of them have been given training schedules and if  they follow it an improve their fitness, they might just see  themselves representing the country again.”
     Today, the Premier Division matches have no bearing as  the title as well as semi-finals slots have already been  determined after Friday’s matches.

  Meanwhile in Division One, Armed Forces won the League title when they beat Politeknik KPT 4-0. Thunderbolt ended second when they edged Johor HA 2-1.
   
PREMIER DIVISION

                     P  W  D  L  F    A  Pts
KLHC            9  7  1  1  46  12  22
TNB              9  4  5  0  24  18  17
Sapura          9  3  4  2  18  16  13
Maybank        9  3  3  3  19  23  12
UniKL            9  1  2  6  16  26  5
Nur Insafi      9  1  1  7  17  45  4
DIVISION ONE

                       P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts

Forces               6  4  2  0  12  4   14
Thunderbolt      6  4  1  1  12  6  13
BJSS                 6  4  0  2  27 18   12
Johor HA         6  3  0  3  16  16  9
Uniten             6  2  1  3  10  12  7
UiTM               6  2  0  4  10  19   6
Politeknik       6  0  0  6  7  19   0


 
RESULTS -- Division One: BJSS 9 UiTM 4, Politeknik KPT 0  Armed Forces 4, Thunderbolt 2 Johor HA 1. 
   TODAY -- Premier Division: Sapura v Nur Insafi-MBI  (National Stadium Pitch II, 4pm), Tenaga v KLHC (National  Stadium Pitch II, 6pm), Maybank  v  UniKL (National Stadium  Pitch II, 8pm).