Perak happy to finish second to high-riding JDT

PETALING JAYA: The race for the Super League title may not be in the hands of Perak but they intend to end their campaign on a high even though second is the highest position they can accomplish.

Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) have an unassailable 41 points lead and need just two wins from their remaining six matches to claim a fifth consecutive league crown. Perak are a distant second with 28 points.

The Seladang coach Mehmet Durakovic said the title race looked like a forgone conclusion but said anything could happen in football.

And he had prepared his team to stay on guard and capitalise on JDT’s slip-up.

“It’s a bit hard to catch up with JDT now with the huge gap but that doesn’t mean that we’ll not try to win our matches,” said the former Australian international yesterday.

“We’re on track to finish second after a 19-year hiatus and I want to win our remaining matches.”

“JDT are miles apart on and off pitch with the other M-League teams ... everyone needs to catch up with them.

“I want our team to close the gap despite our budget difference. We’ll look at ways to further improve ourselves to challenge them.”

The Seladang will host relegation battler Kelantan in their Super League clash at Perak Stadium in Ipoh tonight.

Perak will welcome goalkeeper Muhammad Hafizul Hakim Khairul Nizam Jothy and Brazilian duo – striker Gilmar Filho and midfielder Leandro Dos Santos – back to the team after they missed the last match due to injuries.