Kuala Lumpur (10 February, 2017): Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) and Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) are in race of a different kind in the TNBMHL 2017 Premier League.
Double champions THT went on a goal-scoring spree against UiTM-KPT – winning 12-2 at the Tun Razak Stadium whilst arch rivals KLHC defeated Maybank 4-0 at the KLHA Stadium.
Both teams have accumulated 26 points after 10 matches but Sarjit Singh’s THT stay top of the table standings with a 21-goal advantage. THT have scored 61 goals and conceded seven while KLHC netted 47 and gave away 14 goals.
The east coast side will play Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), whom they beat 3-0 in the first leg, this Sunday at the KLHA Stadium.
“We took a 12-0 lead and I tried out my bench (reserves) and UiTM scored two goals. Nevertheless, we still took away a 10-goal margin from the match. And I believe we can’t afford to play like we did in the final minutes today against UniKL in the next match because they are a much more balanced side,” said THT coach Sarjit Singh.
South Korean Jang Jong Hyun scored five goals to bring his tally to 19 and is a sure choice for the top-scorer award as his closest challengers, also from THT, are Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (nine) and Faizal Shaari (eight).
As for KLHC team manager, Ahmad Anuar Sham, he said: “At this stage, all we need is three points and I am happy with the team’s performance even though it was a slow start before the goals came.”
KLHC goes head to head against Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) in the next match and are favourites to win three more points.
In Bandar Penawar, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) pulverised SSTMI 7-0 and Tenaga Nasional Berhad downed TNB Thunderbolts.
Pakistani Muhammad Aleem Bilal netted a double from penalty corners whilst Mohamed Nor Akmal, Muhammad Marhan Jalil, Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin, Muhammad Toseeq Arshad and Danial Asyraf Ghani scored a piece for UniKL who maintained third-place in the table standings with 22 points after today’s win.
TNB’s scorers were Azril Misron (5th minute), Muhammad Ramadan Rosli (12th), Muhammad Hafizuddin Zaidi (22nd) and Muhammad Najib Abu Hassan after Thunderbolts Amirul Hamizan surprised the senior team with a fourth minute field goal.
Results – Premier League: Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club 4 Maybank 0; Terengganu Hockey Team 12 UiTM-KPT 2; TNB Thunderbolts 1 Tenaga Nasional Berhad 4; UniKL 7 SSTMI 0.
Women’s League: PKS-Uniten-KPT 3 SSTMI 0; Terengganu Ladies Hockey Team 2 Johor Bahru District HA 0; Blue Warriors 6 Kulim 1.
Sunday (12 February, 2017): Premier League: UniKL v Terengganu HT (KLHA, 6.0pm), UiTM-KPT v Tenaga Nasional Berhad (Tun Razak, 8.0pm), SSTMI v Kuala Lumpur HC (SSTMI, 7.0pm), Maybank v TNB Thunderbolts (Malacca, 6.0pm).
