Impressive display
Negri show their ability despite losing five players from last year’s squad
PETALING JAYA: It’s back to Super League business for Charity Shield winners Negri Sembilan and runners-up Kelantan when the season kicks off tomorrow.
Negri entertain Selangor at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi while Kelantan take on Singapore Lions XII at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Negri, who lost five key players from last season’s Malaysia Cup winning squad, put on an impressive display to be at the much fancied kelantan 2-1 to bag their first Charity Shield.
However, Selangor, who ended last season without any silverware won’t be easy opponents as they have roped in new coach Irfan Bakti and bolstered the team with new signings.
Selangor have recruited Congolese striker Lelo Mbele and Lebanese defender Ramez Dayoub and have locals K. Gurusamy, R. Surendran and K. Soley to beef up their squad.
Negri coach Azraai Khor Abdullah hopes that the Charity Shield win will spur his players to beat Selangor.
“It’s a positive start and the young players showed a lot of maturity to equalise and beat Kelantan,” said Azraai.
“We had to adapt our strategy to play to our strength against Kelantan as we had some injury problems. The same approach will be taken against Selangor.
“This is just the beginning for us and we have to keep in mind that the season is just starting.”
Negri’s seasoned campaigners – Shukor Adan and Idris Karim – will be racing against time to make the squad after missing the Charity Shield through injury, but the young upstarts who replaced them have proven their worth.
Midfielder-turn-defender G. Mahathevan who was indomitable against the Kelantan attacks will be called again to marshal the backline with international Norhafiz Zamani Misbah.
Negri’s Cameroonian striker JeanEmmanuel Owona who scored both goals will spearhead the attack with Ahmad Shakir Ali.
Reigning Super League champions Kelantan have the unenviable task of picking up the pieces after their shock defeat before they face the Lions XII who want to mark Singapore’s return to Malaysian football with a bang after an 18-year hiatus.
Kelantan coach Peter Butler needs to motivate his boys and plan a line-up without injured defender Azizi Matt Rose for the trip to Singapore.
Azizi sustained a ligament injury to his knee during the Charity Shield match and is expected to be out for four to five weeks.
Kelantan manager Azman Ibrahim said his side have to move on and learn from the defeat.
“We went through the same heartbreaking losses last season and need to learn from this defeat,” said Azman.
“It will be tough to play unknown opponents on the artificial pitch that we are not familiar with. Nevertheless, we intend to return with full points.”