PHJ-MSNJ, Anderson Thunderbolts and AHP-MSP Thunderbolts prevailed in the penultimate chapter of the 2024 Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) Division One matches, while defending champion Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts and Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolts endured their first defeats.
The battle for the Division One title, which will be decided tomorrow (June 22), will now see a five-cornered contest, with PHJ-MSNJ and Anderson Thunderbolts sitting 1-2 at the top of the table standing on 18 equal points.
SSTMI Thunderbolts are placed third, AHP-MSP Thunderbolts in fourth spot, and BJSS Thunderbolts in fifth. All three teams amassed 17 equal points each.
In tomorrow’s final lap of the league matches, PHJ-MSNJ plays MSSPP-PSHA in Bertam, Penang, Anderson Thunderbolts go into a showdown with Akademi Hoki MBPJ at the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium in Ipoh, and AHP-MSP Thunderbolts face Terengganu’s SMIDIN-MSNT at the Wisma Belia ground, Kauntan, Pahang.
PHJ-MSNJ’s hopes of winning the title rest on a big victory over MSSPP-PSHA to thwart Anderson’s chase for the crown. PHJ-MSNJ scored 25 goals and conceded nine in eight matches, while Anderson scored 25 and conceded 13.
However, should PHJ-MSNJ and Anderson Thunderbolts fail in their missions to win full points, it leaves the door open for SSTMI Thunderbolts and BJSS Thunderbolts to take a shot at the title. Both teams will go head-to-head at the SSTMI ground in Bandar Penawar.
In other Division One matches, AHP-MSP Thunderbolts defeated SSTMI Thunderbolts 2-1; Anderson Thunderbolts outclass SMIDIN-MSNT 3-1, MSSPP-PSHA defeated BJSS Juniors 4-0; and Akademi Hoki MBPJ edged SSTMI Juniors 1-0.
“I am proud at the way my players played today. It was a hard-fought match and the boys never gave up. They deserve this victory,” said PHJ-MSNJ coach Mohd Nor Aqmal.
“Our mission is not over yet. We face a tough match against MSSPP-PSHA. They are a strong side.”
BJSS Thunderbolts coach, Lokman Yahya, said: “We had many chances to score from penalty corners. It was a good match. Now that our hopes of winning the league title are slim, we still have the TNB Cup to make amends.”
The action-packed encounter saw Gajandeep Singh (14th), Andywalfian Jeffrynus (48th) and Abdul Hamzah Yahkip’s (57th) powerful reverse stick ‘tomahawk’ shot sail past goalkeeper Muhammad Farith Atha and into the net, scoring for PHJ-MSNJ. Shafy Shahymm Husseini replied for BJSS Thunderbolts (16th) via a penalty corner conversion.
