Top guns go on goals galore

Kuala Lumpur (7 August, 2016): It was a day of goals galore for the top teams in the 2016 Division One TNB Malaysian Hockey League today.

Johor-based Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) and TNB Thunderbolt pulverised their meek opponents. SSTMI trounced Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) 6-0 at the Ministry of Education ground while Thunderbolt continued its unbeaten run after two matches by pinning down Politeknik Malaysia 5-1 at the adjacent Kuala Lumpur HA Stadium.

In other Division One encounters, defending champions Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) bounced back from Friday’s league opening match 2-3 defeat against Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh (MBI) to turn the tables on Nur Insafi with a 3-2 win and at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium, MBI triumphed 4-1 over 2015 League runners-up ATM Airod.

Amir Zulkarnain scored two goals via penalty corners (14th & 29th) for UiTM while Fitri Ismail added the third in similar fashion. Nur Insafi led the match with a Nur Rahull Hrsikesa Thaitchana Muruthi third minute field goal and team captain Abdul Asim Khan scored the second off a penalty corner in the 38th minute but it was UiTM who went on to steal the show and full points with this 3-2 victory.
SSTMI, who draw 3-3 against Thunderbolt on Friday, scored a brace through Muhammad Zulhamizan Awang (13th & 35th) and Muhammad Luqman Hakim (51st & 58th) while Fahmi Zulhemli (42nd) and Muhammad Fikri Amer Runnizar (49th) added to BJSS misery.

Thunderbolts, coached by former national player Nur Saiful Zaini, were on top of their game against Politeknik Malaysia with Muhammad Akhimullah Anuar nailing a hat-trick (6th, 18th and 59th minutes). Muhammad Kamil Yusop and defender Arif Shafie scored a piece in the ninth and 59th minutes from field goal and penalty corner respectively.

The men’s Division One league takes a two-week break from tomorrow as most of the players will be involved in the Malaysian Schools Under-18 (MSSM) hockey tournament in Ipoh. The Division One League resumes on August 20 with four matches on the schedule.
Meanwhile, TNBMHL Tournament Director Jusver Singh Dhaliwal, said the Technical Committee will review Universiti Teknologi MARA protest next week. UiTM lodged a protest after the match ended against MBI on Friday at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium citing failure of MBI as the home team in providing medical services at the venue.

In the only women’s league match played today, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) continued where they left off on Friday by registering their second win in the tournament following a 3-1 victory over Politeknik Malaysia at the Bukit Serindit Hockey Stadium in Malacca.
SSTMI had on Friday outclassed PKS-Uniten-KPT 3-0 in the league’s opening match at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground.

The Johor-based sports school went 3-0 ahead by the third quarter with a brace from Fatin Naimah Zaki (3rd & 22nd) from field goals while Nuraslinda Said added the third (41st minute). Politeknik Malaysia replied through Nurul Shafizan Amran via a penalty corner in the 53rd minute.

RESULTS – Men’s Division One: TNB Thunderbolt 5 Politeknik Malaysia 1; BJSS 0 SSTMI 6; Nur Insafi 2 UiTM-KPT 3; Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh 4 ATM Airod 1.
Women’s League: Politeknik Malaysia 1 SSTMI 3.