Studies prevent long time MBPJ coach from training team

Former champions Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will not have the services of their long time coach Roslan Salikon in this year’s Malaysia Hockey League.

Roslan, who has been coaching the team since 1999, has opt out because of studies.

Roslan, guided the PJ team to win the overall title in the Junior League title in 2007, said that he cannot train the team this season because he is doing his Phd degree at University Malaya.

“I really love to coach the team but I had to take a break this year to complete my studies,’’ said Roslan.

Under the guidance of Roslan, MBPJ reach the final three times in 2001, 2005 and 2007, the year they won the overall title.

Selangor coach Paul Raj will be in charge of the team this year in the MHL which begins on Feb 20.

MBPJ assistant team manager Zanal Abidin Ismail said that they definitely would miss Roslan, who has coach the team for nine years.

“However, we have an experienced coach in Paul to handle the team this season and we have set a target of winning the Division Two league title.

“We have competed in the junior league since it’s inception in 1995 but have never won the league title,’’ said Zanal.

MBPJ will feature in Division Two of this year’s MHL. Teams in Division Two and Division Three are for players who are under 19. Each division will have 11 teams.

The other teams in Division Two are double champions BJSS, BJSS Juniors, Kijang Mas Kelantan, MSN Malacca, Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak), Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS), BPSS Juniors, Setapak High School, Anderson of Ipoh and Tenaga Nasional.

The Division Three teams are Selangor MSS, SMK Pengkalan Permatang Kuala Selangor, SMK Seberang Temerloh, Penang MSS, Cliffordian Kuala Kangsar, Matri of Perlis, Sultan Abu Bakar College (SAB), MSS Perlis, Nur Insafi, SMK Datuk Taha and Tunku Besar Juniors.

Zanal added that only midfielder Mohd Faud Azis has been retained from last year’s squad.

“We have a new team with an average age of 16 and have been training for the last two months.

“In preparation for the league the team have played many friendly matches and I believe that they are ready to win the elusive league title,’’ said Zanal.