Going through: SSTMI-Thunderbolts’ Muhammad Najmi Farizal Jazlan (left) fails to stop SSTMI Juniors’ Danial Asyraf Abdul Ghani during their Malaysian Junior Hockey League match at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium yesterday. Thunderbolt won 6-0.

KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champions SSTMI-Thunderbolt romped to a 6-0 win over SSTMI Juniors on the opening day of the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

It wasn’t much of a contest and it was clear that Thunderbolt were conserving their energy for the next two matches – against Bukit Jalil Sports School today and Malacca High School tomorrow.

Four-goal Amirol Aideed was the toast for Thunderbolt, finding the net in the seventh, 27th, 54th and 66th minutes.

Amir Zulkarnain A. Robangi bagged a brace in the 38th and 60th minutes.

Thunderbolt star player Amirol Aideed scored four goals. — GLENN GUAN/The Star

Thunderbolt coach Wan Mohamed Roslan said after the match that they did not exert themselves “as our next two opponents were watching us and there was no point tiring ourselves out”.

“A winning start and a comfortable scoreline – that’s good enough for us. The next two matches are very crucial to our title defense.

“In fact, our title bid starts today when we play against BJSS. I have to make sure the boys can recover in time and still have some extra in the tank for Saturday’s third match.”

BJSS, meanwhile, will be hoping to end a four-year jinx against Thunderbolt at the Ministry of Education Turf today.

It will be difficult though as BJSS have a relatively untested side, with some of the youngsters having graduated from their junior team only this year.

Coach S. Prakash feels that the odds are stacked heavily against his BJSS side but is confident that his boys will put up a good fight.

“No doubt they are favoured to win again ... but the time has come for us to turn the tables on them,” said Prakash.

“It’ll be tough but not impossible. We must respect them ... but not fear them.”

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