Monday, May 24, 2010

SABAH AIM TO UPSET

By AFTAR SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: Debutants MSN Sabah are in high spirit after winning the Division Two title of the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League.

They have now set their sights on turning the tables on last year’s double champions Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) in the quarter-finals at the Tun Razak Stadium today.

MSN Sabah coach Paul Raj said his players were all fired up to stun favourites BJSS, who are powered by 10 players from the Project 2013 squad.

“We will go all out to get the better of the sports school and create another piece of history by qualifying for the semi-finals. All the pressure will definitely be on BJSS, who have won either the league or overall title since 2003,” he said.

“We’ll have to come up with a different game plan as BJSS, who will surely be going all out against us to make amends for failing to defend the league title.”

BJSS finished third in Division One, behind champions Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS)-Thunderbolt and newcomers Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

Paul said they would be banking on skipper Eldon Lemery, who has scored 15 goals in eight league matches, to inflict pain on BJSS.

BJSS coach S. Prakash, meanwhile, admitted that the pressure would be on them in the quarter-final clash.

“It’s not going to be easy to beat the Sabah team, who are playing exceptionally well. They have nothing to lose since they are making their debut in the tournament,” said Prakash.

“But I am concerned because my boys are not playing to their true form. We also won’t have the services of four players who are in Germany for the four-nation Under-16 tournament.”

The four are defender Nur Amirul Syamin Khalid, midfielders Mohd Fitri Ismail and Mohd Shahiram Zali and forward Mohd Haziq Samsul.