Malaysia

Jugjet Singh

THE Sang Kancil from Malacca will be entering the lion’s den today when they face 15-time champions Kuala Lumpur in the 100Plus Power-Razak Cup semi-finals at the National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
KL will be foolish if they take the kancil, the masterful dodger in Malay folklore, lightly in their quest for their 10th consecutive title in the 42nd Edition of the Razak Cup.

Everything points to KL making the final, but the young Malacca side have vowed to fight till the very end.

"The players are committed and have been very easy to coach as they are willing to learn and absorb tactics well. We will enter the pitch as the underdogs but will fight till the last second of the match," said Malacca coach S. Velappan who has 10 Malaysian Games players in his team.

In the other semi-final, National Juniors and Perak square off with both sides having an equal chance to advance to the final. Perak have only registered 16 players for this edition and reaching the last four was an achievement for the State as they do not have any big names, save for former international K. Gobinathan, in their side.

As for Malacca, the sky is the limit now that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam has shown a keen interest in the sport.

It was reliably learnt that Malacca will be getting their second artificial pitch and money would no longer be a problem.

FIXTURES - Today, S-finals: Kuala Lumpur v Malacca (4pm, Pitch I); National Juniors v Perak (6pm, Pitch I).

Classification — 5th-6th: Selangor v Pahang (6pm, Pitch II); 7th-8th: Johor v Armed Forces (4pm, Pitch II). * Note: Both matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Entrance is free.

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