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November 05, 2009 18:13 PM
Thriller In Store As Kelantan And Negeri Sembilan Pursue M'sia Cup History
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan, in hot pursuit of Malaysia Cup history, will face off in the Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
Kelantan has not won the cup since its inception in 1921 although the east coast side has made it to the final in 1955 and 1970 while Negeri Sembilan, though winners in 1948, have not actually won the Malaysia Cup since it was known as the HMS Malaya Cup, then.
Negeri Sembilan too had made it to the final in 2000 and 2006 but lost on both occasions to Perak and Perlis respectively.
On paper, Kelantan are seen as the favourite, especially with the likes of Indra Putra Mahayuddin who was crowned the Most Valuable Player in the 100 Plus/FAM National Football Awards yesterday and also winner of the Best Striker award.
Kelantan caoch B. Sathianathan, who himself hails from Negeri Sembilan, however felt Negeri Sembilan have their own strength in players like Mohd Shukor Adan, Hairuddin Omar, Mohd Rezal Zambry Yahya and Idris Karim.
"They will be further reinforced with the inclusion of some young blood like S. Kunalan, Shahruin Abu Samah, Mohd Zaquan Adha and Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak.
"Furthermore, coach Wan Jamak Wan Hassan has been with the team for three seasons now and knows the players well," said Sathianathan when met during a meet the fans session here Thursday.
Sathianathan, the former national coach, however, said Kelantan too have prepared well for the final and except for injured defender Mohd Azlan Zainal, the rest of his players are available for the final.
"Apart from Mohd Azlan, all the players are available and everyone has to fight for their first team place," said Sathianathan who guided the national Under-23 squad to win the Merdeka Cup in 2007 after beating Myanmar.
Sathianathan who took over the reins from Englishman Peter James Butler at the start of the Malaysia Cup, had transformed the Kelantan side into one that packed too much power for the opponents in the run up to the final.
His twin strikeforce - Indra Putra and Mohd Norfarhan Mohamad - have scored 10 and 7 goals respectively in the Malaysia Cup campaign and could turn out to be match winners on Saturday.
Sathianathan who refuted claims that the presence a huge number of Kelantan fans would add on to the pressure of his players, said his players would be intimidated by the presence of fans because the fans had always been behind the team throughout the season.
"What is important is that the players must forget about past results and enjoy the game," he said.
For the record, Negeri Sembilan had beaten Kelantan 2-1 and 2-0 in their previous Super League matches but Kelantan gained some measure of revenge by dumping them out of the FA Cup on away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate score.
Meanwhile Wan Jamak said Kelantan's strength was the support from their die-hard fans.
"Kelantan has a very experienced strikeforce in Indra Putra, Khalid Jamlus and Norfarhan but I also have a number of very promising strikers in the team. But what I have emphasised to the players is to remain focused, disciplined and mentally strong," said Wan Jamak.
The Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, kicks-off at 8.45pm on Saturday (Nov 7).
-- BERNAMA
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