Defending champion Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts and arch rivals Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolts will battle in the final of the Men’s Malaysian Junior Hockey League TNB Cup (overall champions) on Saturday (June 29).
SSTMI Thunderbolts dominated Anderson Thunderbolts to register a 4-2 victory in the semi-final today while BJSS Thunderbolts defeated Division One champions Persatuan Hoki Johor/Majlis Sukan Negeri Johor (PHJ/MSNJ) 2-0. Both matches were played at the National Hockey Stadium.
In the Division One league matches, SSTMI and Anderson Thunderbolts drew 4-4, and PHJ/MSNJ defeated BJSS Thunderbolts 3-2 at the Ministry of Education ground on Jalan Pantai.
Mohammad Adib Amsyar Hanis, BJSS’s second-ranked goalkeeper, was instrumental in thwarting PHJ/MSNJ’s comeback in five penalty corner opportunities with a brilliant performance.
“I was worried about the performance of our No 1 goalkeeper Muhamad Farid Atha following his downscale performance in the last two matches and replaced him with Adib. It was a good decision,” said BJSS Thunderbolts head coach Lokman Yahya.
“The players were demoralized after losing to Johor (1-3) and SSTMI (1-4) in league matches. The momentum was different today and we went for quick goals on the counterattacks,” he added.
Raahul Fazrien Nazren scored BJSS Thunderbolts’ first goal in the fourth minute, assisted by Naaveennash Panicker from open play. Naaveennash than scored the second goal in similar fashion in the 31st minute. The score stood at 2-0 at the end of regulation time.
SSTMI Thunderbolts scored through Mohamad Syazwan (6th minute), Ahmad Fauzi Salleh (7th), Darwisy Hamdan (51st) and Jebat Aiman Mohd Jeffri (54th, PC). Anderson’s solitary goal was scored by Ahmad Danish Noor Azmi (41st, penalty corner).
PHJ/MSNJ were reduced to 10 players in the last four minutes of regulation time when Samrin Asri was served a yellow card. PHJ/MSNJ and Anderson will face off for bronze medal.
