A lesson well learnt
No repeat of deer mistakes, says new Negri coach sazali
PETALING JAYA: It was the unkindest miss of all.
Negri Sembilan had looked good for promotion and needed only to beat UiTM on the last day of last season’s Premier League to get into the Super League. They drew 1-1 and missed out on promotion on goal difference.
This season, though, they are not about to make the same mistake. They have kept faith in their four foreign imports – three Brazilians and a Japanese – and have signed on seven new faces.
Most importantly, they have a new coach, but one who has good knowledge of the team’s campaign last season.
Sazali Saidon, revealed yesterday as the new Deer coach, was the team’s assistant coach last season.
Sazali said the painful miss on the last day of the competition has made Negri Sembilan’s resolve stronger and the team smarter in their second bite of the cherry.
“We missed out by the narrowest of margins so we felt we only needed to enhance the team by replacing the players who have left,” said Sazali who was previously Negri’s President’s Cup squad coach and technical director.
“Besides, if we change many players, we need to start from scratch and it will take more time.
“Last season, we were inconsistent ... we need to be able to get points even when not playing well. It’s all about being clinical with the chances and mental strength.”
Negri’s three Brazilian players are defender Matheus Fernandes Vila Real and strikers Jose Almir Barros Neto and Igor Carneiro Luiz. Midfielder Shunsuke Nakatake is from Japan.
Leading the seven new local faces is former player Shahurain Abu Samah, who was with the squad from 2006 to 2013. The six others are PKNS FC former captain Muhammad Shahrom Abdul Kalam, Ahmad Azriddin Rosli (UiTM FC), Mohd Arip Amiruddin (UKM FC), Muhammad Nazrul Kamaruzaman (Selangor
United), Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin (Sarawak FA) and Che Mohamad Safwan Hazman Che Hassan (Penang).
Three President Cup (Under21) players have also been absorbed into the main squad, namely Muhammad Idham Zuhair Roslisam, Khairul Anuar Yusri Lani, and goalkeeper Muhammad Aizat Roslim.
The Negri Sembilan Football Association have set a top-two target in the Premier League and Sazali believes his men are capable of achieving it.
“I see Kuala Lumpur have signed several big-name players and will be among the contenders for promotion along with Penang, Kelantan and us,” said Sazali.
“There’s not much difference between us and the other teams in terms of quality. It’s now all up to the players to deliver consistent results.”