UniKL to play different role
Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) will not field a Junior Hockey League (JHL) team this season. Instead, they will help Datuk Bentara Luar of Johor Baru.
Yesterday, UniKL formalised the continuation of their development and sponsorship programme with Bentara Luar who will compete under the name of SMKDBL-UniKL-PHJ, or “Bentara Johor UniKL”.
The JHL is expected to start on March 3 with 10 teams in Division One and 17 in Division Two.
“We are more focused towards development and our target is 12, 14 and 16-year-old players.
“And since we do not have enough capable players in UniKL for this season’s JHL, we will not field a team but help Bentara Luar of Johor instead.
“Once our development programme is successful in the near future, we might field a JHL side again,” said president of UniKL Prof Datuk Dr Mazliham Su’ud.
UniKL were the Overall champions in 2010 and won the Division One League title in 2011.
“It is no use fielding a side if we are going to get whipped. It’s better that we concentrate on development and when our players mature, field a strong side who can challenge for titles.”
UniKL have their own artificial pitch at their campus in Serdang, where development programmes are expected to begin after April.
Meanwhile, UniKL players and officials received a windfall yesterday, when the club decided to give them RM100,000 on top of the RM80,000 prize money they won in the TNB Cup.
UniKL became MHL champions for the first time since making their debut in 2011. They beat Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club 4-3 in a shootout after holding them to a 1-1 draw in the TNB Cup final.