Sumareh plans Raya treat for fans as JDT visit Pahang

PETALING JAYA: Pahang winger Mohamadou Sumareh hopes to give home fans a Hari Raya treat by beating leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in their Super League clash at the Darul Makmur Stadium tonight.

The Elephants suffered a 1-0 defeat to JDT in an earlier fixture at the Larkin Stadium last Friday and to add insult to injury, their Singaporean defender Safuwan Baharudin was shown the red card while Sumareh hurt his ankle after La’Vere Corbin-Ong stamped on it.

Sumareh said he was lucky to escape without a major injury and will be focused on helping his team win the match.

“I was making a return in the JDT match last week after recovering from a left ankle injury. I was lucky I didn’t get hurt on the same ankle ( on Friday),” said the Gambian.

“I would have suffered serious damage if I was stamped on the same ankle.

“It’s quite shocking though that he (Corbin-Ong) didn’t get sent off.

“This match, however, will not be a grudge match. I’m over with that incident.

“We’re playing at home and obviously, we don’t want to lose in front of our fans.

“We will push hard for a win to give our fans a Hari Raya gift. We’ll be disciplined and will keep to the game plan.”

The Elephants’ loss to JDT saw them dropping to third spot in the 12-team Super League with 25 points, three points behind second-placed Perak and 11 points behind leaders JDT with eight matches to go.

The Eleplants will be hardpressed for a win without the suspended Safuwan and three injured key players – defender Afif Amiruddin, midfielder Azam Azih and striker Patrick Cruz – but the 23-year-old Sumareh said the injury crisis would not stop them from giving JDT a run for their money.

“The season is not over yet ... we’ll fight although we’re 11 points behind,” he added.