AGAINST THE ODDS: SM Sains Lahad Datu players celebrating after defending the Zon SQL Hockey Championship title at Sarawak Hockey Stadium on Sunday.
KUCHING: A golden goal from Reyjhafar Md Razali in the 4th minute of extra time sealed the win for SM Sains Lahad Datu in the Zon SQL (Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan) Hockey Championship last Sunday.
The defending champion beat SM Sains Kuching 2-1 in the close game played at Sarawak Hockey Stadium.
After a scoreless first half, Fredrick Jau Jok scored first for SM Sains Kuching. After wasting six penalty corners, SM Sains Lahad Datu equalized in the 33th minute when Ramlan Bahar collected a deflected ball from SM Sains Kuching goal keeper to hit it into the top of the net.
Both teams were tied up 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
SM Sains Lahad Datu coach Jumadi Lahilo was elated with the win especially after his team’s training was interrupted by the ongoing skirmish in the district.
“It feels like we are winning a national level tournament for the state of Sabah. Some of the boys, Muhammad Afif Zawawi, Rahman Bejamin and Safiq are playing their best hockey of the year, and other boys have undergone only two days of training after the school was closed” he added.
Earlier in the girl’s competition, SM Sains Miri emerged champion after beating SM Sains Labuan 2-0. The competition, jointly organised by SM Sains Kuching and SM Sains Kuching Utara, was held from March 13 to 17 to select players to represent Borneo in the national-level SM Sains Sports Carnival to be held in Melaka in June.