Monday, April 20, 2009

Div2 :: BJSS and MBPJ already preparing for semi-final matches

The quarter-finals of the Malaysia Hockey League Under-19 category are still ongoing but Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) are already preparing for their semi-final matches.

The duo are set to go through to the last four after securing comfortable leads in their quarter-final first leg matches on Sunday.



Tomorrow’s return leg will be used by both teams as a build-up for the two-leg semi-finals on April 24 and 26.

BJSS defeated SMK Temerloh 9-0 while MBPJ were 3-0 winners over Anderson of Ipoh.

For BJSS coach S. Prakash, his concern now is the semi-finals and he will allow the reserves to gain some exposure in tomorrow’s return leg.

“We will not push the players hard in the return leg. We will try and use it to experiment and to improve on our team work. The semis will be tough as the PJ side are good,” said Prakash.

Despite having a three-goal margin, MBPJ will not take it easy. In the preliminary round, Anderson defeated MBPJ 2-0 in Ipoh. With the return leg in Ipoh, the PJ side will take a cautious approach to the game.

Two other matches in the bottom half are still far from being resolved.

Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS) have a 4-2 win over Division Three champions Nur Insafi while Tenaga Nasional hold a slim 3-2 win over MSN Malacca.

BPSS needed two late goals to take the two-goal lead and they will face a very determined Penang side in the return match.

Nur Insafi coach S. Tatchanamurty said that they would continue to fight despite having a depleted side.

“The players did well in the first leg as we led the sports school twice. Only a lapse in the last one minute proved fatal. Still we intend to give our best,” said Tatchanamurty.

For Malacca, they have to take the initiative to attack Tenaga tomorrow.

In the first leg, they fought back from three goals down to end up 2-3 losers.

Said Malacca coach Azrul Effendy Bistamann: “ We have to take the fight to Tenaga and go for an early goal.

“There is no doubt that we have the ability to score goals and we have to be more consistent throughout the game. We need to attack and an early goal will give us a fighting chance.”

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