A point to prove
Sime Darby FC aim to show FA Cup success not a fluke
PETALING JAYA: FA Cup finalists Sime Darby FC have a point to prove in the Malaysia Cup competition – that they are not one-season wonders.
Hotshot Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh said the Premier League side don’t want to be remembered only for their exploits in the FA Cup competition, where they ousted three top flight teams en route to the final.
“We (Sime Darby FC) are a team to be reckoned in the prestigious Malaysia Cup competition. We have showed the big teams that we fear nobody and we will continue from where we left off in the knockout competition in May,” said the 21-year-old Liberian international yesterday.
Super League champions Kelantan edged Sime Darby FC 1-0 in the FA Cup final thanks to Mohd Ghaddar Mahmoud’s strike from the spot kick. The club side had earlier defeated Sabah (2-0 in the first round), Johor FC (5-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals) and defending champions Terengganu (2-1 on aggregate in the semifinals). They also defeated Premier League side USM FC 2-0 in the second round.
Wleh has been outstanding for the club side, scoring 15 goals in 18 matches. He was on target in all the FA Cup matches, except for the semi-final second-leg match against Terengganu (he did not play due to suspension).
Sime Darby FC head coach Ismail Zakaria is hoping his men will resume their giant-killing act again in the Malaysia Cup, which begins on Aug 22.
Ismail’s team are in Group C with three Super League sides – Felda United, Perak and defending champions Negri Sembilan.
Besides Wleh, Sime Darby FC can also rely on seasoned campaigners like Kamarul Afiq Kamaruddin, Es Lizuan Zahid Amir, MohdNor Ismail and Razali Umar Kandasamy.
In the Premier League, Sime Darby FC had 45 points to finish in third spot, behind champions Armed Forces (54) and runners-up Pahang (46).