MSSD KK win U-18 hockey championship
KOTA KINABALU: MSSD Kota Kinabalu snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to emerge as the champions of the Sabah School Sports Council (MSSS) Under-18 Hockey Championship yesterday.
Kota Kinabalu were 0-2 down with five minutes to go in the final against MSSD Keningau but somehow they managed to turn the tables on the opponents to win 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out at the Malaysia Sports School Sabah hockey pitch.
After a scoreless first half, Andywalfian Jeffreynus stunned the early favourites by giving Keningau the lead in just seven minutes into the second half.
Mohamad Fazly Adwa doubled Keningau’s lead in the 43rd minute and looked good for the title until Kota Kinabalu made a late surge to level the match.
With just five minutes in regulation time, Mohammad Izzairie Dali pulled a goal back before Mohd Aleef Sulaiman made it 2-2 with the equalising goal in stoppage time.
It forced the match into the penalty shoot-out and Kota Kinabalu never looked back as they emerged 3-2 victorious to complete the extraordinary comeback.
The championship is a platform to identify players to represent Sabah at the National School (MSSM) hockey championship in Malacca from March 23-28.
The 20 players selected to the provisional squad are Salman Sulaiman of Tawau, Mohd Azfar Mustaming (Tawau), Abdul Habil Hazfaryozi (Tawau), Noor Izzul (Sandakan), Chyreal Harvie Ahinin (Ranau), Muhd Daniel Hakim (Papar), Norwelzicapool Norbert (Nabawan), Alves Christiano (Kota Kinabalu), Jufriady Rusli (Kota Kinabalu), Mohd Syafiq Lamatta (Kota Kinabalu), Mohd Syafiq Aris (Kota Kinabalu), Mohd Syamil Aiedzat Ali (Lahad Datu), Muhd Izaz Afdhaal (Kota Belud), Hail Iskandar Hail Amir (Kota Belud), Azril Peter (Keningau), Andy Walfian Jeffrynus (Keningau), Jencas Andawi (Beaufort), Haziq Asyraf (Sarawak SSMS), Kennedy Marin@ Misin (Keningau) and Waxry El Dvyine Mashirinu (Kota Marudu).
Kota Kinabalu Education Department officer Umin Hj Sadi presented the prizes to the winners.