Negri, Terengganu seek league cheer

NEGRI Sembilan and Terengganu seek to put last weekend’s FA Cup disappointment behind them as they turn their focus back to the promotion chase in the Premier League today.

Leaders Negri, who have a three-point cushion over secondplaced Terengganu, will be confident of victory over Armed Forces, who elected to sacrifice home ground advantage by having the match played at Paroi instead of Tanjung Malim.

Terengganu, meanwhile, visit Kota Kinabalu to face Sabah with one eye on the chasing pack led by Perak SEDC as the league enters the second round.

Negri coach Asri Ninggal is counting the cost of a 1-0 defeat to Pahang in the FA Cup semifinal, first leg last Sunday which ended their 15-match unbeaten run in all competitions this year.

Most importantly is the loss of their top scorer Bruno Castanheira to a knee injury though Asri is confident Negri can cope without the Brazilian-Japanese forward.

“I don’t know yet whether Bruno can make tomorrow’s match but if he can’t we will have an adequate replacement since we have a 25-man squad with everyone having an equal chance to play,” Asri told Timesport yesterday.

“Of course Bruno is our top scorer and an important part of the squad but I’m sure whoever replaces him will do his best.”

Asri has the option of replacing