Treat with respect
Be wary of PKNP, says Felda United coach Sathianathan
PETALING JAYA: Many felt that Super League side Felda United had the easiest draw for the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals.
This is because the Fighters were pitted against the only Premier League side left in the competition – Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP).
But try telling that to Felda coach B. Sathianathan.
The former international, who led Kelantan to their historic Malaysia Cup victory in 2010, expects relative newcomers PKNP to give them a run for their money in the first-leg of the quarter-finals at the Tun Abdul Razak Stadium in Jengka, Pahang, on Friday.
“They won’t be pushovers. I have told my men to treat them with respect. It doesn’t matter that they are a Premier League team.
“I have not watched them play. But from the feedback I got from teams who had played against them – like Pahang and T-Team – I know they are a hard-working side and can make life difficult for us.
“PKNP should be given due credit as they finished as Group A champions. They got good results against Pahang and T-Team.
“And they have nothing to lose when they play us.”
PKNP will be counting on South Korean striker Kim Hyeon-woo and Mohd Shahrel Fikri Fauzi for goals.
PKNP won promotion to the Premier League after finishing as FAM Cup runners-up last year.
Felda, who made their debut in the FAM Cup in 2007, have only qualified for the Malaysia Cup semi-finals twice – in 2014 and 2015.
The other quarter-final fixtures see Malacca facing Johor Darul Tazim (JDT); Selangor taking on defending champions Kedah; and Pahang meeting Perak.