KUALA LUMPUR: T. Naaveennash Panicker, a national team trainee, is focused on helping Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolts win the Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) overall title.
BJSS will face defending champions Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts in the boys' final at the National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil, on Saturday.
For the record, SSTMI are gunning for their 11th MJHL overall crown.
Naaveennash scored a goal in BJSS's 2-0 win over MJHL champions Johor HA-MSNJ 2-0 in the semi-finals on Thursday.
"We will go all out tomorrow to deny SSTMI a chance to retain their overall title.
"Although we lost 4-1 to them in the league, I believe it will be totally different in the final," said Naaveennash, who played only three matches for BJSS in the MJHL due to his attachment with the national training squad.
Meanwhile, SSTMI coach Wan Roslan Wan Abdul Rahman said forwards Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin and Danish Haikal Saufi will not be available for the final.
"Azimuddin has joined the national team for the Tour to Europe, while Danish is recovering from a broken jaw.
"We will face a tough battle against BJSS, the overall champions in 2022. We are relying on our other forwards to score goals and win our 11th overall title," said Wan Roslan.
FIXTURES
SATURDAY
Boys' final: BJSS Thunderbolts vs SSTMI Thunderbolts (8.30pm)
Third placing: Johor HA-MSNJ vs Anderson Thunderbolts (4pm)
Girls final: SSTMI-PKS Uniten vs Mutiara MSSPP (6pm)
Third placing: KL City-KLSS vs Mutiara MSSPP-PSHA-PKS Uniten (8am)
*All matches at National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil