Malaysian Handball League 2006

The Malaysian Handball League for the year ended yesterday with the Men's and Women's Semi-finals and Finals respectively. The League brought together different handball clubs and associations from all over the country to compete over 4 months. Most of the clubs were composed mainly of their state players. The League is also part of an ongoing process to select potential candidates for the handball event in the 2007 SEA Games.

The Men's Finals was between KL Star and Team Kinta.

KL Star and Kinta have met once in the league a few weeks ago. The game ended in a school yard brawl and both teams had the game forfeited. The situation then could have been handled in a better fashion by the match officials. The culprits got away literally unscathed.

The game started at 2.30pm. KL Star came roaring out of the blocks with a succession of hard shots from 9 meters. Kinta were on the back paddle in that short burst of KL Star's energy. KL Star hit 3 past the Kinta goalkeeper in a space of 6 minutes. Kinta's normally solid defence was rendered porous. Kinta tried to wake up from their slumber and managed to keep out KL Star's onslaught for the next few waves. It just wasn't Kinta's day as their best attacking opportunity on the fastbreak was muffed and hit the post with only the goalkeeper to beat. After that KL Star took the opportunity and hit another 3 goals past a hapless Kinta goalkeeper.
Being down 6-0 in a space of 12 minutes probably pricked the slumbering giants of Kinta. Kinta began to play harder but not smarter. The goal came off a Kinta attack disrupted by the KL defence on the 6 meter. Kinta's hardworking right-winger cut across from his position and managed to knock the ball into the KL goal. A minute before half-time and Kinta was able to get the ball into the back of KL's net. No. 13 from Kinta made amends for his earlier fastbreak miss and managed to latch on to another fastbreak opportunity. This time he made no mistake.
After the short breather both teams came out knowing the next few minutes would decide the league champions. Again it was KL Star that came out strong. In the next 3 minutes their talismanic right-half hit another two past Kinta from exactly the same spot and using the same move. Kinta finally woke up and began to press for the elusive goals. It was not to be Kinta's day as they could only find the net twice more while KL Star sealed the game with another goal a few minutes from end.

Final score 9 - 4 to KL Star.
Kudos to KL Star for they were the better team that day.
Players from KL Star who made the difference : Right-half - No. 4 and Left-half - No. 3
Players from Kinta who played their game : Right wing ( can't remember his number ) and the two goalkeepers.
* A few points ( not excuses ) about the Kinta team

• Kinta was a team that had NEVER trained together. Players come from all over the country.
• The short time allocated for the match ( 15 mins per half ) wasn't enough for the players to find their groove. Not making excuses for Kinta. But being a team without opportunity to sharpen their skills together, they are usually slower off the blocks and need some time to find their rhythm.
• Kinta's lack of opportunity to train together was dreadfully exposed by a well-organised KL Star.

Amongst the spectators were the patrons of the MHA and newspaper reporters. I am sure the match left them satisfied.

Overall the 2006 Malaysian Handball League was a success. A shout of thanks to the organisers. There were a few incidents that left a bad taste in the mouth. Perhaps the organisers would be able to iron out the problems in the upcoming events. Refereeing for the Finals was excellent. Keep it up.

From a personal perspective, this particular Kinta player only played well in one match of the League. On individual defence in 0ne-on-one situations it was not bad overall. On offence, not being able to train with my team-mates made a difference. My understanding of my team-mate's play is still not there. Only way now is to hit the gym and try to improve certain physical aspects that can better my offence. Hopefully the next time we meet in tournament it will be better. A silver medal will have to suffice for now.

P.S. A shout to Pau Siang and Wooi Siong.

Thanks so much for giving me lifts to and fro. Really appreciate it.

I arrived at Pudu at 5pm. Placed was packed. All the main bus companies that I usually use were fully booked. Had to settle for some company called SE Express. They promised me it would be direct to Penang. Got the 5.30pm ticket. Bus only arrived at 6.15pm. Took 4 hours to reach Ipoh bus station. Stopped there for about 40 minutes waiting for passengers to get off and new ones to board. Just outside the toll at the Ipoh exit, the stupid bus broke down. Some radiator problem. Stopped by the highway for an hour. Driver managed to do something about it. Journey continued at about 5okm per hour. Stopped at Butterworth. Again to let some off and take others on. Reached Penang at 2am. Nearly eight hours in the bus. Naturally woke up late the next morning. Went in late for hospital ward rounds.