Monday, May 24, 2010

THUNDERBOLTS SHOULD HAVE IT EASY

NEWLY-minted Division One champions Bandar Penawar Sports School-Thunderbolt (BPSS) should have an easy time against Division Two outfit Ipoh City Council in their MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League quarter-final today.

Ipoh CC finished third in Division Two, and it should be a lopsided tie at the Tun Razak Stadium.

The battle of the day will be between Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), third in Division One, against Division Two champions Sabah.


Only three matches will be held today, with the Petaling Jaya City Council (PJCC)-BJSS Juniors quarter-final slated for Thursday as six of the sports school's players are in Germany playing in an Under-16 Four-Nation.

Sabah coach Paul Raj feels his players have an even chance against seven-time champions BJSS.

"Compared to the other two top teams from Division One, we will be better off playing BJSS in the last eight. We know the quarter-finals will be tough, but there is no other way to become the Overall champions.


"Winning the Division Two title has given my players much confidence and we hope to pull off a few surprises in the knock-out stage."

BJSS coach S. Prakash knows it would be foolish to take the Division Two outfit lightly.

"This is a one-off tie, so you cannot write off any team. There is no insurance of a rematch this year," he said.


"My players are motivated enough for the Overall challenge. We have nothing to lose and the pressure will be on the two top teams from Division One.

"We will not take any team lightly and there is a good chance that we will face UniKL and BPSS-Thunderbolt in the semis and final," he added.

The semi-finals will be played on Friday while the final is on Sunday at the Tun Razak Stadium.