Defending champion Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts pulverized Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolts 7-0 to claim their 11th Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) overall title at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
BJSS Thunderbolts, who lost 1-4 to SSTMI in the league match earlier, are 2023 overall champions.
Forward Raahul Fazrien Nazren slammed a hat-trick (42nd, 43nd, and 54th minutes). Muhamad Nazreen Azuddin (2nd), Jebat Aiman (10th), Muhammad Nabil (15th), and Muhammad Fakrul Sopfian (52nd minute) scored a goal each for SSTMI Thunderbolts.
“It came as a surprise to me that we won 7-0,” said SSTMI head coach Wan Mohd Roslan Wan Abdul Rahmat. “I believe the players were motivated to win the overall champions title after losing out to BJSS in last year’s final.”
BJSS Thunderbolts coach, Lokman Yahya, was stunned by the big-margin defeat.
“I am speechless. I just cannot figure out what went wrong. We went down 0-1 from a second minute goal and were struggling 0-3 at the end of the first half. I think the players were demoralized and found it tough to get back into the game,” said Lokman.
The Johor-based SSTMI started the match without forwards Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin and Danish Haikal Saufi.
Azimuddin, 18, joined the Speedy Tigers on a two-week playing tour of Europe while Danish is recovering from a jaw injury.
It was complete dominance from SSTMI, who earned 13 penalty corners throughout the match, as they toyed with BJSS’s defence to pump three goals from the word go in the first two quarters.
It took SSTMI just two minutes to surge ahead when Muhammad Nazreen Azuddin found the net with a soft tap of the ball past goalkeeper Mohammad Adib Amsyar.
SSTMI extended the lead to 3-0 from quick counter-attacks through Jebat Aiman (10th) and Muhammad Nabil Irfan (18th) penalty corner conversions.
The trend continued after the change of ends. BJSS coach Lokman replaced Adib with regular goalkeeper Muhammad Farith Atha but the exchange did not stop the marauding SSTMI forwards from enjoying a comfortable 7-0 lead at the end of regulation time.
Meanwhile, Anderson Thunderbolts defeated Persatuan Hoki Johor/Majlis Sukan Negeri Johor (PHJ/MSNJ) 4-3 to claim the bronze medal.
Anderson goals were scored by Muhammad Faiz Afzan Mohd Faizal (32nd and 46th minutes), Muhammad Nur Islanshah Mohd Isa (33rd, FG), and Muhammad Haris Kamaruddin (50th).
The Johor team replied through two goals from Andywalfian Jeffrynus (18th and 38th), and Abdul Hamzah Yaykip (7th).
