AKADEMI PKNS ARE JUNIOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONS  Akademi Bolasepak PKNS FC staged a magnificent fight back to beat Akademi Bolasepak MBPJ 2 -1 in the finals of National Open Junior Community Football League 2009. In the finals played on Saturday at the Petaling Jaya Stadium, PKNS FC had a rude awakening when MBPJ drew first blood as early in the 5th minute when off a corner Muhammad Fareez Jeffrey rose the highest to send a powering header past PKNS custodian Muhammad Azmin Abdul Nasir. With the early lead, and with the PKNS boys struggling to get into the game, MBPJ begin to control play and in the 8th minutes of play, Nuraiman Nazmi could have double his teams lead, but with the PKNS goal at his mercy send his shot straight into the arms of PKNS custodian Muhammad Azmin.
As the game progressed, PKNS midfield terrier Muhammad Adib Hakimy began to take control of play, spraying passes to his team mates and breaking down the MBPJ engine room with his hard running and tenacious tackles. In the 18th minute, PKNS earned a free-kick 25 meters from the MBPJ goal. Centre-back Mohammad Johan duly stepped-up to send in a perfect ball into the box and captain Shafizi Iqmal Md. Khirudin was first to react and gladly glided the ball with his right foot past a helpless MBPJ goalkeeper Muhammad Irfan Disham to tie the match at 1-1 going into halftime. The start of the second half saw PKNS starting aggressively with Muhammad Adib working tirelessly in the engine room and their search for the second goal was rewarded in the 30th minute when Shafizi Ikmal got his and his team’s second goal. The MBPJ defense failed to clear a high ball into their penalty box and Shafizi showed just why he’s the leagues leading scorer when he pounced on the lose ball to coolly slot in his 25th goal of the league. MBPJ, jolted by the second goal, went in search for the equalizer and in the 32nd minute off a corner Muhammad Shahmi Safari had the PKNS bench and supporters on their feet when he rose unchallenged to send a thunderous header in only to see his effort denied by the PKNS crossbar. With the minutes ticking away the MBPJ boys went in search for the all important second goal only to see their attempts time and again foiled by a resolute PKNS defense. As the final whistle blew, Akademi Bolasepak PKNS FC carved their name as the inaugural National Open Junior Community Football League Champions and lay their hands on the prestigious Piala Sultan Ahmad Shah and the winners cheque of RM10, 000.00. Their success was made even more sweeter when their players dominated the leagues individual awards with Muhammad Adib walking away with the Man of The Match award, the suspended Mior Dani Armin voted Best Player of the league and Shafizi Ikmal with the Goalden Boot for top scorer. In an earlier match, Academy Soccerkids beat Gen Pro 4-3 on penalty kicks after both teams could not find the net in normal play. Both teams were tied 3-3 after the mandatory 5 kicks. At the sudden death penalty, Gen Pro’s Mustaffa Ilbalkis wished he was somewhere else when he saw his attempt saved by Soccerkids keeper Muhd. Aizad Iman Mokhtar. Soccerkids Muhd. Khairul Nizam than turned hero for his team when he send Gen Pro’s Nasrullah Shadiq the wrong way and clinch 3rd place and RM1, 500.00 while Gen Pro received RM1, 000.00 for their 4th place finish. Astaka FC won the Fair Play trophy which comes with a prize money RM3, 000.00. The Chairman of the League, Tengku Dato’ Sri Kamarul Zaman Ibni Al-Marhum Sir Sultan Abu Bakar was at hand to give away the prizes. NOJCFL ’09 Roll of Honour: Champions - Akademi Bolasepak PKNS FC Runner-up - Akademi Bolasepak MBPJ 3rd Place - Academy Soccerkids 4th Place - Gen Pro Fair Play - Astaka FC Best Player - Mior Dani Armin (AB PKNS FC) Man of The Match - Muhammad Adib Hakimi (AB PKNS FC) Golden Boot - Shafizi Ikmal Md. Khirudin (AB PKNS FC) Best Goalkeeper - Muhammad Haziq (Jasmine Junior FC) Gua.com League MVP - Mohd. Rafieaddin (Gen Pro) |
