Royal Malaysia Police clinched the TNBMHL 2017 President Cup with a 3-1 win over League champions Nur Insafi in the final at the Tun Razak Stadium today.
Police captain Baljit Singh was the toast of his side when he scored the much anticipated goal in penalty shootout in this nail-biting final which saw both teams end the match 3-3 in regulation time.
Nur Insafi had defeated Police 5-2 in the first-leg of the League and played to a scoreless draw in the return match to emerge overall champions with 21 points – five ahead of Police.
It was Baljit who opened scoring for Police in the ninth minute off a penalty corner but Man of the Match and Pakistan’s Muhamad Bilal Qadir equalised for Nurinsafi in the 28th minute before Azreen Rizal Nasir shot the Cops 2-1 ahead one minute before the end of the first half.
Penang-based Nur Insafi were back in full force after the interval and drew level 2-2 through Aamir Shahzad (40th) and Police once against fought back through Dick Cheny Waili in the 46th minute to lead 3-2 only to lose the lead as Muhammad Ateeq equalized for Nur Insafi in the 49th minute via a penalty corner, forcing the match into penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Ladies Hockey Team (TLHT) added the Vivian May Soars Cup to their closet of trophies following a 3-1 win over Royal Malaysian Police Blue Warriors in the final.
TLHT, led by 10 players from the national senior squad while Blue Warriors had eight players including goalkeeper Farah Ayuni Yahya, were tied 1-1 in regulation time.
Fatin Naimah Zaki put TLHT ahead with a field goal in the 16th minute and Blue Warriors equalised two minutes after the first half through Norbaini Hashim.
However, TLHT who won the 2017 League, prevailed 3-1 with goals from national players Fatin Naimah, Siti Rahmah Othman and Nuraini Abdul Rashid. Blue Warriors sole scorer was Mimie Zulaika Zaini.
Nuraini, the TLHT captain, said: We defeated Blue Warriors twice in the League and again in the final. Playing against Police has always been tough as both teams are strong with national players.”
“It has been a great season for us and we hope to stay together next year and win the double again.”
As the match ended in a draw in regulation time, TLHT and Blue Warriors shared the total prize money of RM30,000 with RM15,000 going to each team (Champion RM20,000 and RM10,000 runner-up). TLHT goalkeeper Siti Noor Hafiza Zainordin is named Player of the Final.
Terengganu State Exco for Youth, Sports and Human Resources, Dato’ Haji Rozi Haji Mamat, observed: “We are very proud of the achievement by TLHT. They won the league and now the Vivian May Sours Cup. We will do more for women hockey in the state to nurture local talents.”
DIVISION ONE:
Champions – Nur Insafi (RM30,000)
Runners-up – Royal Malaysian Police (RM20,000)
Third – Universiti Putra Malaysia-KPT (RM10,000)
PRESIDENT CUP:
Champion – Royal Malaysian Police (RM25,000)
Runners-up – Nur Insafi (RM25,000)
Man of the Match – Muhammad Bilal Qadir (Nur Insafi)
Top Scorer – Baljit Singh Sarjab (22 Goals – Police)
Fairplay – Police
WOMEN LEAGUE:
Champions – Terengganu Ladies Hockey Team (RM20,000)
Runner-up – Blue Warriors (RM10,000)
VIVIAN MAY SOARS CUP: Champion – Terengganu Ladies Hockey Team (RM15,000)
Runner-up – Blue Warriors (RM15,000)
Women of the Match – Siti Norhafiza Zainuddin (TLHT)
Top Scorer – Nuraini Abdul Rashid (22 Goals – TLHT)
Fairplay – Kulim
