Misfiring strikers fail BJSS

By G.ARAVIND  

metrospt@thestar.com.my 

Photos by ROHAIZAT MD DARUS

AFIQ SALUDIN was Kelantan SMK Putera’s hero in their narrow 1-0 win over Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) in the Under-14 Group B match in the Minister of Education Football League.

In the match played at the National Sports Council (NSC) training centre in Bukit Jalil recently, Afiq was on target in the 48th minute. With the lead, SMK Putera switched to the defensive mode to gain maximum points. It was a disappointing result for BJSS as they dominated the match from the start.

Unfortunately, the sports school were let down by their strikers’ poor finishing despite the numerous chances that came their way. BJSS coach Haris Lajid was disappointed.

“It is the same story again. We had ample chances but the strikers failed to score and we ended without a point. Although our team is made up of Form One students, we have given many teams a good fight.

 

“We could have won some matches but our strike force has been weak throughout the tournament,” added Haris. SMK Putera coach Mahadi Hassan praised Afiq for taking the chance and scoring.

“In games like this, the team taking advantage of the chances created will win the game. We knew they would control the match from the start, so we had to play a patient game and soak up all the pressure”.

“When they started to push more players forward for the opening goal, we knew we will have a chance and we took it,” added Mahadi. In another Group B match, former champions SMK Tunku Anum of Kedah found the going tough and lost 1-3 to Selangor’s SMK Seksyen 11 at the Mini Stadium in USJ 23.

In the keenly contested match, SMK Seksyen 11 grabbed the lead through Muhammad Amirul Ashraf Ariffin in the 39th minute before adding more goals off Mohammad Azrul Syafiq Norinukartapati (62nd minute) and Muhamad Aiman Firdaus Ahmad Azahar in the 69th minute. SMK Tunku Anum’s only goal came from Mohd Firdaus Abdullah in the 71st minute. SMK Tunku Anum coach Abdul Hadi Salleh said it was their first defeat in the league.

“The midfield was not functioning as well as it should. We did not create a lot of chances but when we did, the forwards were just not making it count. The forwards were just not consistent enough and we need to do a lot of rethinking for the next match. “Perhaps we have to bring in some new players to provide challenge to the current set of players,’’ said Abdul Hadi.