A file picture of MHS Goalkepper Amirul Aiman Azmi (second from right) during their Malaysia Junior Hockey League match against MBPJ at the Pantai Hockey Stadium yesterday. MHS have only picked up two points from four matches.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malacca High School (MHS) have virtually thrown in the towel for the knockout stage of the MHC-Milo-NSC Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL).
They are in fifth place of Division One with just two points from four matches and scoring only four goals and conceding 11 in four matches.
MHS will play their remaining two home matches this weekend against double champions Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI)-Thunderbolt on Friday and SSTMI Juniors on Saturday.
There are seven teams in Division One and only the top four teams will feature in the knockout stage.
The other four teams to compete in the knockout stage will be from Division Two.
Thunderbolt, who lead the standings with nine points from three matches, former champions Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) are the three teams expected to seal a place in the knockout stage.
Anderson, who are lying in fourth place with five points from five matches, could take the fourth berth for the quarter-finals.
Malacca High School team manager R. Manogaran admits that they stand an outside chance of finishing in the top four.
“We have been struggling in the league and this is our worst season as we did not even win a single match thus far,” said Manogaran.
“We stand no chance against Thunderbolt as they are just too strong. However, we have a chance of beating SSTMI Juniors.
“However, we need to beat SSTMI Juniors by a big margin as Anderson, who are lying in fourth place, have a better goal difference,” said Manogaran.
Malacca High School made their debut in the MJHL in 2006 and won the Division Two title in 2012 to earn promotion to Division One last year.
Last season they qualified for the knockout stage but this year they have yet to win a match.
Manogaran said that they are disappointed with their senior players for failing to shine in the first four matches.
“Instead, our three junior players who are in Form Three, are playing much better than the Form Five players,” said Manogaran.
The three junior players are Mohd Nur Asyraf Ishak, Adam Aiman Mamat and Amir Wafiq Aizad Kamaruddin.
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