KUALA LUMPUR: Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts will not have the services of forward Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin, who left with the national hockey team on Thursday for Poland for the Nations Cup.
But SSTMI still have enough depth to defend both the league and overall titles in the Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) which begins today.
Last year, SSTMI's Azimuddin was the top scorer in the league with 17 goals.
SSTMI will open their campaign against SMK Padang Maidin at Batu Buruk Hockey Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.
SSTMI coach Wan Roslan Wan Abdul Rahman said they miss the services of Azimuddin as he is a key forward and good with his penalty corner conversion.
"But for me what's important for Azimuddin is that the national duty comes first."
Azimuddin will rejoin the SSTMI team after he return from Poland on June 10.
"Despite Azimuddin's absence, we have other reliable forwards like Darwisy Hamdan and Danish Haikal.
"We also have the services of midfielder Adam Ashraf Johari, who featured in the Junior World Cup last year."
Three other Thunderbolts teams - Pahang Hockey Academy, Bukit Jalil Sports School and Anderson of Ipoh will pose a threat to SSTMI.