Fernandes pledges no sentiment against former club Kedah

THIAGO Augusto Fernandes will put his friendship with Kedah players aside when he faces his former teammates tomorrow as he looks to fire Felda United into the Malaysia Cup final.

Fernandes scored five goals in the Malaysia Cup last year as he helped Kedah win the title while on loan from Felda.

In 2015, the Brazilian finished joint top-scorer in the competition with eight goals as Felda reached the semi-finals only to be knocked out by Kedah 4-3 on aggregate.

Fernandes said he has mixed feelings about facing Kedah again in the first leg of the Malaysia Cup semi-finals in Jengka despite scoring in Felda’s 3-1 win in a Super League match in Alor Star on Sept 20.

“I feel a game against Kedah is always tough,” said Fernandes at a Felda training session in Bangi yesterday.

“I know they have strong fighting spirit but these last two weeks we have worked very hard.

“They don’t change many players, they changed two foreigners and the locals are the same. They have a good team but we also have a good team and I think on Sunday it will be a good game.

“Last year we (Kedah) worked hard to win and it is nice to play in the final. But this year we will see. I think we have a 50-50 chance, it is like two equal teams playing each other.”

Fernandes has scored 15 goals for Felda this season, including four in the Malaysia Cup, and would like to increase his tally at the Tun Abdul Razak Stadium on Sunday.

“A striker always tries to score but if I can assist my teammates and help someone else to score then it is more important that Felda win,” he said.

“Kedah are always tough in the league, Malaysia Cup. They have a big crowd. But we are strong team too.” Devinder Singh