From cubs to Lions
Minnows UiTM put big teams to shame
Since the season restarted, only three teams have achieved three consecutive wins in the Super League. They are Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), Kedah and an unfancied team ... UiTM.
Earlier this season, many predicted that the newly-promoted side will be battling relegation as they did not have the best of start. They opened their campaign with two straight defeats, 0-2 to Melaka and 1-2 to JDT. In their third match they drew 1-1
We want to achieve something special this season and for that to happen, we need hard work, there is no rest.
Ousmane Fane
against Kedah.
They, however, notched their first win against struggling Police 3-1 before the league was suspended due to Covid-19 on March 16.
When the season resumed, they continued their winning ways with a 1-0 win over Felda United last week and stunned Pahang 1-0 with the winner coming from Rafie Yaacob (63rd minute) at the UiTM Stadium on Saturday.
The Lion Troops are now fourth in the 12-team standings tied on 10 points with second-placed Terengganu and third-placed Kedah and are only separated by goal difference.
Their football may not be pleasing to the eyes but coach Frank Bernhardt has instilled a high sense of discipline and efficiency in his players, who are mostly students of the university.
And with the presence of foreign players Victor Nirennold, Ousmane Fane, Rabih Ataya and Mark Hartmann, they have given the team some solidity.
For Fane, it is a good feeling winning three games on the trot, but he knows their next five games will be more challenging.
“We must not be complacent, we must keep going and keep pushing until the season ends. For a small team like us, every game is a final,” said the 27-year-old.
When asked about their chances of a top-three finish, he replied: “You know in football you can be on top today and you can be very low tomorrow. There is no point to be excited at the moment. Nothing is over yet, so I can’t talk about top four or two.
“We want to achieve something special this season and for that to happen, we need hard work, there is no rest.”