Watch out, Panthers
JDT’s Hazwan and Ghaddar ready to pounce on Penang
PETALING JAYA: Two heads are definitely better than one.
Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) will be hoping for just that when they unleash the strike partnership of Ahmad Hazwan Bakri (pic) and Lebanese Mohamad Ghaddar in their Super League match against Penang at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Baru tonight.
The Southern Tigers lead the 12-team standings with 30 points after 13 matches while the islanders are rock bottom with just six points.
All eyes will surely be on Ghaddar when he makes his Super League bow with JDT in Larkin.
That’s not surprising given that he scored a whopping 18 goals in 13 matches with Kelantan before joining JDT for an undisclosed amount on May 15.
Hazwan, who joined JDT from Selangor last season, is also looking forward to clicking with his new partner.
“Ghaddar is on form and has strengthened the team. We are getting along well in training, but we need to play together more often to have a better understanding. We play our next game at home and we need to maintain our winning momentum,” said Hazwan, who has scored three goals so far.
The Panthers have bolstered their squad with strikers Mark Hartmann (the Philippines), Sanna Nyassi ( Gambia); midfielders Azidan Sarudin, Elias Sulaiman and R. Surendran; and defenders Brandon McDonald (Guam) and Darwira Sazan.
This will be JDT’s first game under new Portuguese coach Ulisses Morais after former head coach Benjamin Mora was demoted to handle JDT II in the Premier League on June 19.
The 26-year-old Hazwan has also warned his team-mates to be wary of basement side Penang, who are out to make amends under new coach Zainal Abidin Hassan.
“Penang are desperate for points. They have signed new players in a bid to get out from the relegation zone. They will be much tougher to beat this time,” said Hazwan, who is hoping that JDT will retain the Super League title for a record fourth consecutive season.