MHL: TNB determined to end 19-year championship title drought

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 -- Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) intends to end its 19-year wait for the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) championship title this season, after last emerging as league champions in 2003. and winning the 2010 TNB Cup.

TNB, which will open this season’s campaign this time against defending TNB Cup champions Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) in their Charity Shield match next Saturday (Feb 18), intends to win at least one trophy this season with a balanced team of national and junior players. The team won its last trophy more than a decade ago, when it lifted the TNB Cup in 2010.

TNB Head coach Nor Saiful Zaini said although they were currently among the best teams in the league, the team, which depends solely on local players, often suffered greatly when going up against teams bolstered with import players and national team players.

Nor Saiful’s strategy for success relies on making the most of the lack of import players this season as well as the absence of thrice-in-a-row MHL league winners Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), which were dropped from the league after failing to submit their final confirmation form by Feb 8.

“We’ve lucked out in the (TNB Cup) semi-finals many times, perhaps because our rivals have flickers and more balanced teams. On paper, it seems THT have the advantage this time based on their core national players and are balanced in every area, while Maybank is seen as the main challenger.

"However, I promise we will put up a stiff fight and win one or two trophies this time. I always remind my players to reduce mistakes, be disciplined and most importantly, score, if they want to win, because last year we missed a lot of chances," he said at a press conference at the National Hockey Stadium today.

Nor Saiful, who has 10 national players to choose from, including captain Syed Mohd Syafiq Syed Cholan and Faiz Helmi Jali, said their preparations were almost 70 per cent complete, and they were very careful to avoid any injuries and COVID-19 infections.

TNB are among the most successful clubs in the MHL, having won the league five times in 1990, 1991-92 (competing as Kelab Kilat), 2000-2001, 2002 and 2003, as well as winning the TNB Cup seven times (1987, 1989, 1991-1992, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009-2010), in addition to winning the 2019 Tan Sri P. Alagendra Cup.

Meanwhile, former national women's hockey squad coach Roslan Jamaluddin, THT’s new head coach, expects to see fierce competition in the league this time.

“At THT, I see a team with its own style of playing and its own strengths, but for me, the MHL this time is more balanced. TNB has retained most of its players, Maybank has some players from UniKL, so this time it will be tough,” said the former national goalkeeper.

Earlier at a separate press conference, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal announced the coaching line-up of the Men’s and Women’s National Development Teams, which will be making their league debuts this season.

For the men’s team, Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi was appointed team manager, while Megat Azrafiq is head coach, and will be assisted by Mohd Sufian Mohamad, Baljit Singh Charun Singh and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil.

The women's team will be coached by A. Kannagi with the help of Mohamad Sabri Mohamad as assistant coach, while Siti Rahmah Othman will take on the responsibility as team manager, assisted by Wan Mohd Azli Wan Ismail.

“We have been thinking about the establishment of these teams for a long time, especially for the men's team because we are preparing the team for the 2023 FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. This will serve as a platform for players at the grassroots level to get the opportunity to play in competitive tournaments.

“The teams will have continuity next year and will be closely linked to the National Junior Squad and the National Hockey Development Programme (NHDP). As for the MHL competition, we have big plans for next year,” he said.

-- BERNAMA