BJSS set to dominate humdrum tournament

It has become boring and predictable. And the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League will continue to be dominated by one team unless the others work harder and prepare for the tasks with a year-round training programme.

Bukit Jalil Spots School (BJSS) won the double for the fourth time to underline that they are still a class above the rest. Only Tenaga Nasional, and to some extent, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Bandar Penawar Sports School offered some resistance.

The competitions this year were staged over seven weeks and some teams had to play five or six matches within two weeks while some had only two matches.

“The organisers were lucky that teams did not raise an issue over the disparity and went about their business,” said a team manager who has been involved in the league for the last 10 years.

“There is no point in complaining as the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) hardly listen to us. They cannot even draw up proper fixtures and that tells you a lot of their organising abilities.”

BJSS are set to continue their dominance. Since winning their first league title in 2003, BJSS have won six league and four overall titles.

Coach S. Prakash said that having a second team in Division One had helped them to maintain their grip on the league.

“Each year, players from our junior team will make the grade to the senior side. They will come with the experience of having played in the junior team for at least two years. Further more as a sport school we have a year-round programme,” he said.

“But there are problems as well when our players go for national camps or represent their states in national competitions. Our programme then is disrupted.”

On the bright side, it is refreshing to see MSS Kelantan putting up a team for the first time since the league's inception in 1995. They won the Division Two title and will feature in Division One next year. Runners-up MSJ-Batu Pahat will also move up to the top flight.

The MHF must make a concerted effort to ensure that each state have at least one team in the league. They should convince the State Sports Councils to sponsor the teams who are part of their Sukma programme.

This year Perlis, Penang, Johor, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Perak had two teams each while Malacca, and Kelantan had one each. KL contributed three while the two Sports School had two teams each.