PKNS feel at home playing at any venue
PETALING JAYA: Super League side PKNS have no qualms about playing their home matches at a neutral venue.
The Red Ants have applied to play their home matches at the Shah Alam Stadium, but the venue is closed until March due to upgrading works on the floodlights.
But team coach E. Elavarasan is unperturbed.
“It doesn’t matter where we play because we don’t have a big fan base. Playing home or away has always been the same for us,” said Elavarasan after the team jersey and bus launch ceremony yesterday.
“Right now we are scheduled to play at the Shah Alam Stadium but it’s not confirmed yet. We can only play at 5pm and the alternative is to play at the TLDM Stadium in Lumut. We are at ‘home’ playing in either venue.”
PKNS will open their campaign against Felda United at the Tun Abdul Razak Stadium in Jengka on Saturday. And their first home game is against Kelantan on Jan 27.
The club side earned promotion to the Super League after finishing runners- up in the Premier League last season. PKNS also reached the FA Cup final but were beaten by heavyweights Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) 2-1 in the final.
PKNS have invested heavily this season by bringing in 14 new players. The team management have set a Key Performance Index (KPI) of a top five finish and a silverware.
Among the new signings are international striker Safee Sali and former internationals Khyril Muhymeen Zambri and K. Gurusamy.
Elavarasan said the top five finish is a reasonable target.
“It won’t be easy to be in the top five, but we will fight hard to achieve it,” said the 52-yearold.
“We have signed several good players but that does not promise instant success. These players still need time to gel as a team. It’s important for us to get into rhythm as soon as possible.”