KUALA LUMPUR: The Bukit Jalil Sports School boys’ team may be the youngest side in the Malaysia Volleyball League (MVL), which begins from July 9-10, but that hasn’t stopped coach Zulyadi Zakaria from setting them a top-four target.
“Ours is a young team but we have good potential and our target is to finish in the top four and qualify for the semi-finals,” said Zulyadi.
“I have also identified a few of my players who are ready to make the step up into the national team for the SEA Games in Indonesia in November. Hopefully they’ll play well enough to get selected.”
Six men’s teams took part in the inaugural MVL in 1993. The economic downturn in 1998 forced the league to be discontinued.
Now, making its return after 13 years, the MVL will have eight men’s team.
It will also see the introduction of a women’s section, with five teams taking part.
The teams will compete in a round-robin format over three legs – Batu Pahat, Johor (July 9-10), Penang (July 16-17) and Mentakab, Pahang (July 23-24) – before the grand finals are held at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium from July 29-31.
“We’re hoping to generate more interest in the sport and hopefully develop it from the grassroots level. We’ll also be making the SEA Games team selections based on the MVL,” said Malaysia Volleyball Asso-ciation (Mava) vice-president Azahari Sairin at a press conference in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
THE TEAMS
MEN: Armed Forces, BJSS, Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA), Perlis, Sibu, Segamat Volleyball Club (SGV), Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
WOMEN: Armed Forces, BJSS, E-Globex, PDT Pahang and Sibu.
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