KUALA LUMPUR: BJSS Thunderbolts coach S. Prakash wants his players to step up their game in the semi-finals of the MHJL Cup on Wednesday.
The newly crowned MJHL Division One champions thrashed Kedah Eagle Jr 4-0 in the quarter-finals at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
Muhammad Farishshah Fauzian bagged a brace from field goals in the sixth and 49th minute, while Muhammad Amirul Kharuddin and Zulhafizi Aiman Zulkafli converted penalty corners in the 42nd and 53rd minute respectively.
However, Prakash felt that his boys did not perform to expectations, and put unnecessary pressure on themselves.
"What's important is we qualified for the semi-finals but the players felt the pressure. In 2019, we lost the quarter-finals, maybe the players felt so because of that," said Prakash.
"We had a lot of chances but we lacked the sharpness and it's something that we need to fix. I feel that the players are emotionally affected.
"I told them during halftime to keep it simple, go back to basics.
"There's pressure on us being the Division One champions, but there has been no competition for the last two years. And we have many players who don't have the experience at national level.
"Our boys are mostly Under-19 and we are playing against Under-21 players. We are looking at long term development."
BJSS Thunderbolts will take on SMKDBL-PHJ-MSNJ, who beat MBPJ Tigers 1-0, thanks to Muhammad Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin's penalty corner strike in the 56th minute, in the other last eight tie.
The other quarter-finals saw AHP-SSP-MSP Thunderbolts beat 3-0 MSNS/PHS for a last four meeting with SSTMI Thunderbolts. SSTMI Thunderbolts advanced to the semi-final after beating Anderson Thunderbolts 3-2.