Kuala Lumpur (21 April, 2017): Anderson Thunderbolts threw a spanner into Bukit Jalil Sports School Thunderbolts hopes of an unblemished record following a 2-1 victory in the TNB Malaysian Junior Hockey League Division One match at the Kuala Lumpur HA Stadium today.
It was the Ipoh-based Anderson school’s first win in two matches. They lost 3-1 to Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya Tigers in their opening fixture of the MJHL on 16 April while the second match against Pahang Sports School Thunderbolt was abandoned due to heavy rain.
Muhammmad Azrai Aizad Kamal shot Anderson into the lead in the 22nd minute via penalty corner but BJSS Thunderbolt equalised two minutes later through Arif Sabron from a penalty stroke before team captain Muhammad Aiman Shahmi Marzuki netter the winner in the 28th minute from a well executed deflection.
“I could not have asked for a better result than this. It was a good win against a good side,” said Anderson Thunderbolt head coach Muhammad Nizam Hashim. “Today was our second match and I am hopeful we will get better as the league progresses.”
“My biggest concern is the fixtures. We have to travel quite a lot in the coming days and this is going to take a toll on my players. We play Olak-Nurinsafi in Ipoh on Sunday and travel to Bandar Penawar on 25 April and then to Batu Pahat,” said Nizam, adding that Anderson have set a top four finish in the league.
BJSS Thunderbolt head coach Lokman Yahya, however, is unperturbed by their first loss today. The 2016 MJHL runners-up and overall champions defeated University Kuala Lumpur Young Guns 4-0 in their opening match and drew 2-2 against Tunku Makota Ismail Sports School before prevailing 6-5 in penalty shootout.
“It’s still early days and we have six more matches to go. I am confident we will get back on track. Today’s defeat is just a hiccup in our plans. There is nothing that I am too concerned about. We played well but could not get the goals in the last 10 minutes despite putting Anderson under lots of pressure,” added Lokman.
In other Division One matches, SSTMI Thunderbolt triumphed 2-1 over Pahang Spots School Thunderbolt with a double strike from Muhammad Akhmullah Anuar Esook (23rd and 57th minutes) whilst Muhammad Idris Samad replied for Pahang Sports School. At the Pandamaran Stadium, Olak Nurinsafi defeated BJSS Juniors 5-1.
RESULTS:
Division One: BJSS Thunderbolt 1 Anderson Thunderbolt 2; SSTMI Thunderbolt 2 Pahang Sports School Thunderbolt 1; Olak-Nurinsafi 5 BJSS Juniors 1.
Division 2 – Group A: MSS Kedah 3 PHA-USM 1; MISC UFL Penang 1 MSNSSN Young Lions 6; PHA-USM Juniors 2 Stingers 1.
Group B: MCKK 0 Anderson PHA 8; Felda Juniors 3 Terengganu Junior Team 2.
Group C: SMK Dato Bentara Luar 0 SSTMI Juniors 4; Johor Bahru HA 1 Malacca High School Young Hurricanes 2; TBSS Tampin 3 SMK Dato Mohd Taha 4
Saturday (22 April) – Women League Group A: SSTMI v Convent Bukit Nanas HC (SSTMI, 5pm); PSHA USM Juniors v MSN Kedah (USM, 5pm); Sabah Sports School Malaysia v KLSS Wipers (Likas Hockey Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, 4pm);
Group B: PKS-Uniten-KPT v SMK Gunong Rapat (KPM, 5pm); Johor Juniors v PSHA USM Juniors (Batu Pahat, 5pm).
Sunday (23 April): Boys Division One: MBPJ Tiger v SSTMI thunderbolt (MBPJ, 6pm); BJSS Thunderbolts v BJSS Juniors (KLHA, 5pm); Dato Bentara Luar Johor Juniors v Pahang Sports School (Batu Pahat, 5pm); Politeknik Malaysia v Universiti Kuala Lumpur Young Guns (Bukit Serindit Hockey Stadium, 5pm); Anderson Thunderbolt v Olak Nurinsafi (Gunong Rapat, 5pm).
Division 2 – Group B: Anderson Juniors v MISCF UFL (Gunong Rapat, 3pm); MCKK v Felda Juniors (Stadium Uni SAS, 5pm); Group C: SMK Dato Bentara Luar Batu Pahat v Malacca High School Young Hurricanes (Batu Pahat, 3pm); SMK Dato Mohd Taha v MBMB Warriors (SMK Zaaba, Kuala Pilah, 5pm); SSTMI Juniors v Johor Bahru HA (SSTMI, 5pm).
