THT retain TNB Cup for fourth time

Kuala Lumpur (26 February, 2017): Terengganu Hockey Team signed off the TNBMHL 2017 season with a fine performance at the Tun Razak Hockey Stadium today.

Sarjit Singh’s THT retained the TNB Cup for the fourth consecutive year since 2014 following a 5-4 win over and Charity Shield and Premier League champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club in penalty shootout after both teams were tied 4-4 in regulation time.

As the TNB Cup final ended in a draw in full time, both teams shared the total prize of RM160,00O (RM80,000 each).

It was a glorious night for THT when they received the trophy from Terengganu Menteri Besar, YAB Haji Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman in front of an estimated 4,500 fans - of which almost 2,000 fans arrived in buses from the east coast state and those residing in the capital city.

The TNB Cup victory is THT’s second triumph in the 2017 hockey season after claiming the Tan Sri P. Alagendra Cup in January.

“The tournament is getting tougher by the year. We need to buy at least two or three new players. As for Jang, this is his third season with us and he is a key player and we will need him more in future,” said Sarjit.

“We knew we could make a comeback and we did just that. I am very proud of my players who played a great game against KLHC, who without doubt, are playing much better each game. They have always been a tough team to beat in this league,” added Sarjit.

Germany’s Anton Poul Fritz Ebeling once again proved to be a bane to THT.  The German, who scored the winning goal in KLHC’s 3-2 victory over THT in the last match of the Premier League which landed the KL outfit the title after a three-year wait, once again fired his side ahead with the opening goal in the ninth minute.

Korean Jang Jonghyun, however, lifted THT back into the game with the equaliser four minutes later via a penalty corner but drag-flick specialist Muhammad Razie Abdul Rahim shot KLHC 2-1 ahead and Ebeling returned to score his second goal of the night as KLHC stretched their lead to 3-1.

In one of the most enthralling matches between the two heavyweights, it was THT who twice came back to level 3-3 through Jang – first via a penalty stroke in the 35th minute and the second through a penalty corner in the 49th minute.

The drama fast tracked into total entertainment after this with the two teams matching each other's game, keeping the spectators at the stadium riveted from hooter to hooter.

KLHC once again dictated terms to go 4-3 up through Mohd Syamim Mohd Yusof off a penalty stroke in the 53rd minute. Though KLHC dominated the last moments in the fourth quarter with the ball possession, they couldn't quite make much of it as some of their ambitious attempts at scoring was promptly denied by goalkeeper Muhammad Hafizuddin Othman.

But a stroke of luck saw THT rebound to level 4-4 through Nicolas Enrique Della Torre with just three minutes remaining on the clock to take the game into penalty shootout.