KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 30 teams will compete in the MHC-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League (MJHL), which will kick off on Jan 10.
At the team managers’ meeting yesterday, the 30 teams were divided into two divisions.
Seven teams – double champions Sekolah Sukan Tengku Mahkota Ismail (SSTMI) , Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Malacca High School, Anderson-Perak SEDC, Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MBPJ), SSTMI Juniors and KL Sports School Juniors – will compete in Division One. Kelantan HA, who were promoted last year, declined to take part. The matches will be played on a home and away basis.
The other 23 teams, divided into three groups, will be playing in Division Two
There is, however, a slight change in the rules.
Last year, six teams from Division One made the cut for the eight-team knockout stage. But this time, only four qualifiers will come from Division One. The other four teams for the quarter-finals will come from Division Two.
MHC competitions committee chairman M. Gobinathan said the distribution of teams in Division Two was based on geographical location.
“This is to cut costs for all the participating teams,” he added.
Division Two A will be made up of MSSSPP-USM, Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (STAR), Persatuan Hoki Kota Star, Nur Insafi, 1MAS Penang, SMK Syed Hassan, 1MAS Kelantan and Matri Perlis.
The Division Two B teams are KLHC Juniors, Anderson Juniors, MSSD Larut and Selama, Felda Academy Hockey Pahang, MSP Pahang, SMK Padang Midin, Olak-PKT and Permatang Juniors.
Division Two C will have only seven teams – SMK Tunku Besar Tampin, SMK Dato Mohd Taha Gemencheh, Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), Bukit Jalil Sports School Juniors, SMK Dato Bentara Luar Batu Pahat, SM Sains Johor and Politeknik Johor Baru – following the withdrawal of SMK Dato Penggawa Barat Pontian.
Gobinathan said SMK Dato Penggawa Barat Pontial only informed of their pull-out just before the start of yesterday’s meeting.
“We will look into the issue and see if action needed to be taken against them for the last-minute withdrawal,” added Gobinathan.
The competitions committee have also decided that the Most Promising Player Trophy be named after Chua Boon Huat, who passed away on Aug 1.
The MJHL was initiated in 1995 by former National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad and the late S. Satgunam, the former secretary of the then Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF).
Milo has been the title sponsor of the MJHL since the inaugural edition.
“We believe that it is only proper to nurture the youngsters and provide them with a platform to develop. As such the MJHL is a perfect way to develop the sport,” said Nestle Products (M) Berhad’s sports sponsorship manager Ng Ping Loong.
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