KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) have been playing in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) since 2009, but never once made a final, until Wednesday.
They beat MHL TNB Cup holders Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) 4-1 in the first leg semifinals, and then held them to a 2-2 draw in the second leg to make their first final in nine years.
They will play Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) in the final on Saturday, with the aim of lifting their first title.
KLHC were beaten 3-2 by Tenaga Nasional in the first leg, but won 4-3 in the second leg semifinal to take the two-leg aggregate to 6-6, and then won the sudden-death shoot-out 8-7.
UniKL coach Arul Selvaraj was pleased that his players kept their composure and he is hoping for another huge effort from his charges in their quest to win the club’s first silverware at senior level.
"We will be playing with zero pressure as we are happy to have come this far for the first time,” said Arul.
“We are excited. The trophy would be great for all the effort the players and management have put in over the years/
“I believe we are peaking at the right time and one huge effort will be required to upstage KLHC as they obviously are the masters as far as finals are concerned.”
At the start of the season no one gave UniKL the odds to make it this far.
“As I had said in my earlier statements, sometimes it is not how you start but it's how you finish.
“And we hope to finish at the top of the TNB Cup podium.”
KLHC already have the Charity Shield and the Alagendra Cup this season, and will be gunning for their third title Saturday.