Monday February 25, 2013

MBPJ bite the dust

In your face: Thunderbolt’s Mohd Azwar (left) holds off a determined challenge from KLSS player Noor Afig during their MHC-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League quarter-final match at the Education Ministry Turf in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Thunderbolt won 5-1. — RICKY LAI / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Juniors provided the only surprise of the MHC-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League quarter-finals when they earned a spot in the semi-finals.

The sports school took a slender one-goal lead into the second leg yesterday and managed to secure a 4-4 draw against Division One runners-up Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru.

SSTMI Junior won the first leg 4-3 and yesterday’s draw sees them sneaking in by the odd goal.

SSTMI Juniors got their goals through Mohd Firdaus Musa, Danial Ashraf (two) and Zulaniq Adib while MBPJ replied through Mohd Haikal Zamri, Mohd Zahir Zaki (two) and Nor Ikhwan Rahman.

But the result is still not confirmed as MBPJ have lodged an official protest against the umpiring. Thus, SSTMI Juniors will have to wait for the technical committee meeting today to know if the results will stand.

MBPJ assistant team manager Zainal Abidin Ismail confirmed that they had filed an official protest to the match technical officer Murugan Nair.

“The standard of umpiring was very poor ... we’re just angry that decisions were not firm in the match,” he claimed.

“There were too many U-turns by the umpires and this affected our players. Once again, cards were flashed to my players and penalty corners were not given when fouls were committed.

“I don’t know what the technical committee’s decision is going to be but we need to protest to tell them that this kind of umpiring cannot be encouraged. I have a good set of players and they are young and eager to learn. Such umpiring will kill their interest in the game.”

Hot favourites SSTMI-Thunderbolt, however, booked their place in the semi-finals after a crushing 5-1 win over KL Sports School for a 9-1 aggregate.

Thunderbolt scored their goals through Mohd Sufi (two), Shahrushadan Basri, Zizi Azwan and Mohd Aminuddin Zain while KL replied through Zulhaswan Hashim.

Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) were the big winners in the last eight after beating Malacca High School 6-0 for a 13-0 aggregate win. The last tie of the day saw MBI-Anderson making the cut with ease, beating MSS Kelantan 4-2 in Kuala Terengganu to add to their 5-1 first-leg win.

In the semi-finals, which will be played on Wednesday and Friday, Division One champions Thunderbolt will face MBI-Anderson while SSTMI Juniors will take on UniKL.

Thunderbolt coach Wan Mohd Roslan has warned his boys to expect a tough time in the last four.

“I believe that MBI-Anderson will also be confident as they had beaten us in the preliminary round. It’s not a question of seeking revenge over MBI-Anderson ... it’s about getting the right result that will ensure our place in the final,” he said.

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