City boys aim to clear Sabah hurdle to gain promotion

PETALING JAYA: Premier League leaders Kuala Lumpur are just one win away from ending their fouryear wait to return to the Super League.

A win over Sabah in their penultimate Premier League match at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium tonight will seal their ticket to the Super League next season.

The City boys top the 12-team Premier League standings ahead of second-placed Terengganu on better goal difference. Both have 44 points after 20 matches.

Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) are third with 40 points and can still spoil the party for the promotion chasers.

KL midfielder Irfan Zakaria acknowledged that pressure is mounting on the teams as there are only two matches left.

“We may be leading the standings, but I don’t think we are in a strong position. Any slip ups in the last two matches can end our promotion hopes as PKNP are just waiting to pounce,” said the national Under-23 player.

“A win over Sabah will ease the tension a little before we end the season with a match against Johor Darul Ta’zim II (JDT II). I think managing expectations and handling the pressure will be crucial in the next two matches.”

The 22-year-old Irfan, who is from Cheras, is high on confidence after helping Malaysia win the 2018 AFC Under-23 qualifiers in Bangkok in July and the silver medal at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last month.

The former Harimau Muda B player said that the second half of the year had been good for him and he hopes to cap it by winning a silverware with KL.

“We struggled in the first half of the season as it took us some time to gel as a team. But once we clicked, it was smooth sailing. I got a late callup for the AFC Under-23 qualifiers and I only became a regular in the KL team after that.

“Everyone in the team is working hard, so I believe we can be in the Super League next season,” said Irfan.