PETALING JAYA: Former international Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil’s coaching credentials will be put to the test when his high-riding Selangor team play defending champions Perak in the boys’ semi-finals of the National Under-16 championships in Bukit Jalil today.
Selangor finished tops in Group B after winning all six matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding just two but Tengku Ahmad has cautioned that the knockout stage at the National Hockey Stadium would be a different ball game altogether.
“This is my first experience as a coach and I’m glad to see the team doing well. But group stage is over and the players cannot be over confident,” said Tengku Ahmad.
“We have seen teams doing very well in the group stage but suffer setbacks once the knockout starts and I don’t want Selangor to be in this situation.
“Perak are the defending champions. They are a good team and this match will be close.
“I want the boys to keep fighting and use whatever we have taught during the match and go all out.”
Despite Tengku Ahmad’s cautious approach, Selangor are the team to beat in the boys’ event as the only team capable of challenging them are the surprise package Pahang who topped Group A.
Pahang, the only other unbeaten team in the boys’ event, will play Negri Sembilan in the other semi-final clash.
FIXTURES
SEMI-FINALS
TODAY
BOYS
N. SEMBILAN vs PAHANG
(National Hockey Stadium, Pitch 1, 9pm)
PERAK vs SELANGOR
(National Hockey Stadium, Pitch 2, 9pm)
GIRLS
PENANG vs PERAK
(National Hockey Stadium, Pitch 1, 7pm)
MELAKA vs N. SEMBILAN
(National Hockey Stadium, Pitch 2, 7pm)
