The Division Two title is likely to be a very open race although the usual suspects will play a pivotal role in the run-up to the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League.
Three new teams will in the fray with six of the teams returning for yet another season. The newcomers are Sabah MSN, Ipoh City Council-MSN and MSSP-MPK Pahang.
Negri Sembilan’s usual entries SMK Datuk Taha and Tunku Besar SS will certainly be considered as title contenders as they have always challenged for honours in the past.
Matri Perlis and Penang Free School-USM are the northern challengers while SMK Pengakalan Permatang will be Selangor’s sole representative while SAB Johor will play under the MSSM Johor-MSN Johor-PHJ-MSAB (MSN Johor) banner.
It is interesting to note that a team from East Malaysia will making its debut in the MJHL and this will add a little glamour to the Division two matches. The Sabah team has set up camp in Klang and will use the Pandamaran Stadium as their home venue.
Another Klang team SMK Teknik had initially entered a team but they failed to send in their entry fees and team lists. They also did not attend the team’s managers meeting last week. Thus the organisers have struck their name out and have revised the fixtures.
For the first time KL do not have a team in the lower division seem by many as a stepping stone to the elite grouping.
The action starts on Friday with three matches followed by another three on Sunday.
Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) secretary Hashim Mohamed Yusof said that the top three teams will qualify for the knockout stage. Last year only two teams made the cut.
"This year the format is for the top five teams from Division One and three from the lower division playing at the knockout stage. There will be total of 18 teams with nine teams in each division.
The total prize money is RM82,000 with the top four finishers in Division two winning prize money," he said.
The champion will receive RM7.000 while the runners-up will get RM3.500. Third and fourth placed teams will receive RM2,000 and RM1,000.
Fixtures
Friday, 9 April 2010
Division One
1700H – BJSS v BJSS Juniors – Std KLHA Pantai
1700H – Anderson v MBPJ – Stadium Azaln Shah
1700H – SSBP Thunderbolt v SSBP Juniors – Bandar Penawar
1700H – MWHA v UnKL – Seremban Two Hockey Stadium
Division Two
1700H – PFS-USM v MBI-MSN – USM Stadium
1700H – SMK Dato Taha v TBSS - Tampin
1700H – SMK PP v MSN Sabah - Klang
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Division One
1630H – MBPJ v SSBP Thunderbolt – Stadum Tun Razak
1700H – PHK/MSS Kelantan v UniKL – Kuala Terengganu Stadium
Division Two
1700H – Matri v MBI-MSN – Kangar
1700H – TBSS v SML PP – Tampin
1700H – MSN Sabah v SMK Dato Taha - Klang
