PKNS hope Safee and Lucas can fire on all cylinders
PETALING JAYA: Strikers Safee Sali (pic) and Lucas Espindola will have very big shoes to fill for newly-promoted PKNS FC.
The club side will be banking on the duo to spearhead their charge for goals in the Super League following the departure of Argentine strikers Gabriel Guerra and Juan Cobelli for greener pastures this season.
Last season, the Red Ants’ attacking triumvirate of Guerra, Cobelli and Chilean-born Palestinian Matias Jadue scored a total of 40 goals in the Premier League. The trio were instrumental in the club winning promotion as runners-up to Malacca.
PKNS coach E. Elavarasan believes that his new attackers – Malaysia’s Safee and Argentina’s Espindola – will have no problem leading the team’s strike force.
“People talk about Safee’s age (32 years old) but I think he’s the right guy for us. Lucas (Espindola) is a newcomer to the M-League, but these two are quality players and will be key players for us this season,” said Elavarasan.
“Expectations will be high on these two players to make an instant impact, but I’m just looking at getting the best out of them. They’ve been working hard in training and I believe they’re not too far off their best.
“We have another option in attack in Patrick (Wleh), so there’s plenty of combinations for me to chose from ... I’m confident of getting the team ready for the new season.”
Safee was a peripheral figure in 2016 with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) while the 23-year-old Espindola, signed from Argentine Second Division side Club Atletico All Boys, is likely to need more time to find his feet in the M-League.
PKNS will kick off their Super League campaign against Felda United at the Tun Abdul Razak Stadium in Jengka on Jan 21.