A new wave of challenge in the form of JHA-MSNJ may pose a threat to Thunderbolts teams in the battle for the coveted 2024 TNB Malaysian Junior Hockey League (TNB MJHL) Division One title as the tournament heats up into its final lap next week.
Competing under the flagship of the Johor Hockey Association, JHA-MSNJ is the firebrand hockey team of SMK Dato Bentara Luar with two players from Sabah and Kuala Lumpur. The team is high flying high in the league and showed its arrival as a contender to the title.
The Batu Pahat-based school, coached by Mohd Nor Aqmal Abdul Ghaffar, is placed fourth in the 10-team table standings after six matches by amassing 14 points – three behind table topper Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolts.
Defending champion Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts are second in the standings with 17 points, Pahang Hockey Academy Thunderbolts (14) in third spot, while Ipoh-based Anderson Thunderbolts are fifth with 12 points.
JHA-MSNJ’s will face its biggest test against SSTMI Thunderbolts tomorrow (June 15) at the SMK Dato Bentara Hockey ground, before taking on BJSS Thunderbolts on June 20, and concluding their league fixtures on June 22 against MSSPP PSHA, currently placed in eighth spot, at the Bertam Hockey Stadium.
In six starts, JHA-MSNJ have won four matches, drawn twice and have maintained an unbeaten run. Their latest triumph was the 5-0 drubbing of BJSS Juniors. Andywalfian Jeffrynus scored a hat-trick, while Muhammad Hazrey Hafry Azhari and Nischal Singh – the son of national team head coach Sarjit Singh, scored a goal each.
But for now, JHA-MSNJ will have to find a solution to stop SSTMI.
“The team has been playing well in the league despite the strong challenges we faced. We aim to continue this momentum against SSTMI tomorrow,” said Nor Aqmal.
“It is going to be a much bigger test for us than in previous matches. The players are mentally prepared for the match and are highly motivated.”
“Our mission is to play well in every match, and qualify for the quarterfinals which start on June 25,” he added.
SSTMI Thunderbolts played to a 4-4 draw against Anderson Thunderbolts at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh yesterday. Their remaining matches are against JHA-MSNJ tomorrow, Pahang Hockey Academy Thunderbolts (June 20) and BJSS Thunderbolts on June 22.
The Bandar Penawar-based sports school will also have the services of national senior team forward Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin who played against Anderson upon his return from Poland on Wednesday with the Speedy Tigers.
But there is still more firepower in SSTMI when they play JHA-MSNJ. They can also count on other reliable forwards like Darwisy Hamdan and Danish Haikal, and midfielder Adam Ashraf Johari who featured in the Junior World Cup last year.
SSTMI head coach Wan Mohd Roslan Wan Abdul Rahmat said he expects a good match against JHA-MSNJ and is counting on a victory which would enhance their mission of winning the league title again.
“The team played in Ipoh on Thursday and we travelled straight to Batu Pahat after the match so that the players can have a good rest for Saturday’s game. Today we had a soft training session to give the players opportunity to adapt to the ground,” he added.
“The last four matches are tough as we are playing against top rank teams. In earlier matches it was more of a warm-up. Overall, the team has been playing well with a lot of attacking opportunities but we have been missing out on scoring chances.
“JHA-MSNJ hold the advantage playing on home turf and we need to come up with a good performance for the three winning points,” he said.
