MHL :: It’s old hands against young guns when Sapura take on Tenaga

It will be an experience versus youth match-up when former champions Tenaga Nasional play against Sapura in the opening Premier Division match of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) here today.

Sapura have retained almost their entire team from last year with three new players while Tenaga have six youngsters to combine with six national stars.

Sapura coach S. Prakash said yesterday that although Tenaga have a relatively young side, they could still be counted as favourites.

“For us, the experience of our seasoned players will be the key. I expect a close match,” said Prakash.

“I do not think we can make a prediction on the winners because opening matches can be full of surprises,” he said.

The newcomers in the Sapura team are Azreen Rizal, Mohamed Marhan Mohamed Jalil and Ahmad Kazamirul Nasruddin. Their seasoned campaigners are S. Kuhan, Nishel Kumar, Mohamed Rodhanizam Radzi, S. Shanker, Jivan Mohan, Reduan Ponirin and Mohamed Redza Maadun.

National defender Jiwa Mohan is listed in the team and it will only be known this morning whether he arrives in time from Perth.

Tenaga coach Nor Saiful Zaini said that with many young players in the team, the task was to stay focused on winning the match and not playing to the gallery.

“Sapura know how to deal with situations and they will punish you for any mistake,” he said.

The national stars in the Tenaga side are goalkeeper S. Kumar, Mohamed Amin Rahim, Mohamed Madzli Ikmar, S. Selvaraju, Baljit Singh and newcomer Faizal Saari.

And providing the youth element are Shahril Irwan Nazli, Mohamed Nor Hafiq Abdul Ghaffar, Mohamed Anwar Ali, Mohamed Jamil Saidin, Izwan Firdaus.

“I think what is important for us is to click as a team. I have not set any big target for the team and there will be no real pressure on them. We will take one match at a time,” said Saiful.