We are not one-season wonder, says PKNP’s Abu Bakar

PETALING JAYA: Premier League debutants Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) do not want to be labelled a one-season wonder.

Head coach Abu Bakar Fadzim said they will prove that their fairy tale run in their debut season in the Premier League was no flash in the pan.

“The boys have worked for it. We are going to be ready for the challenges in the new season – with bigger goals,” said PKNP head coach Abu Bakar Fadzim.

“But there’s still one thing left – to finish on the podium in the Premier League this season.”

The 2016 FAM Cup runners-up made heads turn this season by qualifying for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup. Now they are just one game away from finishing third behind Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur in the 12-team Premier League standings.

The Turtles and the City side have sealed the top two spots, having garnered 47 points each with one more game to play. They have picked up an unassailable lead and will be promoted to the Super League next season.

PKNP are third with 43 points – two ahead of Negri Sembilan.

But PKNP have a tough final game ahead. They will wrap up their campaign against Terengganu at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh on Oct 27.

A win or a draw will be enough for them to finish third. Fourthplaced Negri will be away to Sabah.

Abu Bakar has already started planning for the new season as he knows that expectations will be high after their strong showing, especially in the Malaysia Cup.

PNKP were the only Premier League side to qualify for the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals after surprisingly topping Group A.

They upstaged Super League sides Pahang and T-Team before their challenge fizzled out in the quarter-finals, where they lost 5-4 to Felda United on aggregate.