JJ won’t underestimate Dynamic in bid for double
KUCHING: JJ have set their sights on claiming a double team matchplay title when they take on Dynamic in the final of the Samarahan Country Club (SCC) Inter-Team Match Play Quality Concrete Challenge Trophy at SCC today.
Playing as J&J5, JJ ended a 21year wait when they captured the KGS-OBYU Team Match Play title in April after edging Blue Lobsters 3.0 3-2 in the final at Kelab Golf Sarawak.
“Yes, we are definitely going for the double. The team is all fired up to give their best and complete the job,” JJ captain Kua Yong Hock told The Borneo Post yesterday.
“In reaching this stage, all the team members are feeling strong and eager to win,” he added.
However, JJ, who were last year’s semi-finalists, will not be taking their final rivals lightly although they have beaten Dynamic 3-2 in the opener on July 27.
“They are a good and strong team as they have bounced back strongly from the defeat to us and they have also beaten some strong teams in the Loser’s Pool to make the final.
“Well, win or lose, it will depend on a number of factors such team’s form and performance on the day, weather and greens conditions,” he pointed out.
Kua is feeling confident because his team is very committed to carrying out their own respective training and practice. “We have been together since the team matchplay competition started and some young and talented golfers like Immanuel David, Yoo Dae Hee and Chieng Vui Leng have boosted the strength of the team.
“I have the deepest respect for our members, among whom are doctor, lawyer, engineer and contractor and they are very committed in their training,” added Kua.
Meanwhile, Dynamic captain Yussuf Drahman, who regarded his team as the underdogs, said they are excited and looking forward to today’s showdown.
“We lost 2-3 to JJ in the opening match but we will be fielding a new line-up of nine players and God willing, we will beat JJ.
“It will be a very interesting and tough match and the team that makes the least mistakes shall triumph,” he noted.
Yussuf said his team did not expect to get this far this year because they made an early exit last year after losing two consecutive matches in the preliminary rounds.
“We managed to beat defending champions King Labang 3-2 in the Loser’s Pool on Aug 18.
“The players are in high spirit and hopefully the team spirit that we built up from the second match onwards will continue against JJ tomorrow.
“On behalf of my teammates and all participating teams, I would like to express my appreciation to the organising committee especially to club captain Lee Kui Thiam for the smooth and successful running of the tournament,” he added.