Saturday August 18, 2012
Defender Baljit to play for UniKL in hockey league
KUALA LUMPUR: National defender Baljit Singh will be donning Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) colours when the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) begins on Sept 1.
The Ipoh-born player was to have joined UniKL last year but decided to accept the counter-offer made by his employers Tenaga Nasional.
However, Baljit has now accepted UniKL’s offer and has even started working for them.
The 26-year-old said he was sad to leave Tenaga Nasional, having worked and played for them since 2004.
All set: Baljit Singh will be playing as a sweeper for UniKL, a role that is familiar to him as he has played in that position for the national team “I needed a change in my career. I want to thank TNB for giving me a chance to represent and work for them but there comes a time when tough decisions need to be made. I feel that UniKL’s offer came at the right time in terms of my career and hockey,” said Baljit.
“Playing for UniKL offers me a new challenge as they are a young team and I will get a chance to guide some of the youngsters in defence. It is a challenge I am capable of handling.”
Baljit has 134 international caps and made his debut for the national squad at the 2007 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. He last featured for the national team in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in May.
Baljit, a former student of Anderson High School, represented the school in the Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) in 2002 and 2003.
He joined TNB in 2004 and helped them to three overall titles – in 2004, 2007 and 2009.
But it is 2009 that holds fond memories for Baljit.
“That was the year we won the overall title and I was named the best player of the tournament,” he recalled.
Baljit will play as a sweeper for UniKL, a role that is familiar to him as he has played in that position with the national team.
“I am looking forward to a good outing. The MHL has been shortened and there will be quality matches each week. I aim to help UniKL make the semis ... and then we’ll take it from there,” said Baljit.
Besides UniKL and Tenaga, the other teams featuring in the Premier Division of the MHL are double champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC), Sapura, Maybank and MBI-Nur Insafi.
The League will end on Oct 10.
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