SAFIQ HOPES FOR THIRD TIME LUCKY
JDT captain determined to add Malaysia Cup to glittering trophy cabinet
REPORTS BY DEVINDER SINGH devinder@nst.com.my
AFTER a long and distinguished career, there remains one honour missing from Safiq Rahim’s list of achievements which he hopes to put right today.
When he leads Johor Darul Ta’zim onto the Shah Alam Stadium pitch to face defending champions Kedah, Safiq will be looking to be third time lucky and win the Malaysia Cup for the first time in his career.
“It’s my third time in the final of the Malaysia Cup and I have lost twice already, first with Selangor (2008) and then with JDT (2014),” said JDT captain Safiq at the Shah Alam Stadium yesterday.
“I hope luck is on my side tomorrow. Of course, every player wants to win and create history, both personally and for the team. So I am hoping for the best result tomorrow.”
Looking to deny him that opportunity on the other side of the pitch will be Kedah skipper Khairul Helmi Johari, who is keen to retain the trophy and claim a winners’ medal for a second time.
Despite reaching the Malaysia Cup final for a third consecutive year, Khairul said the excitement remains just as the same as his first appearance in 2015.
“We won it last year and the Cup is the still the same but it is still exciting especially when you consider who we are facing,” said centre-back Khairul, 29, who has already lifted one trophy at the Shah Alam Stadium this year after Kedah’s FA Cup triumph in May.
“But JDT is a perfect team. We hope our players on the field can give full commitment in the final. There are no stars in this team. For as long as I have been here, it has been harmonious where the seniors and juniors all train at the same level. We combine well as a team and we have now made a third final in a row.”
When Safiq was asked which Kedah player his team should keep an eye on, the 30-year-old midfielder said: “Every Kedah player has to be watched.
“They all have specific abilities but there is no individual in either team which needs special treatment. It would be dangerous for us if we do that. How we prepare for the match is more important.”
The two teams met last Saturday in the season’s final Super League match in Alor Star with much-changed line ups as the match ended 0-0.
Kedah also held Darul Ta’zim 11 in the opening match of the season at Larkin which they went on to win on penalties for the Charity Cup.
“I think the two games we played against JDT were quite balanced,” said Khairul. “We can’t wait for the final. Of course, there are high expectations on us in the final so may the best team win.”