Durakovic eyes sixth Malaysia Cup title

SHAH ALAM, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Perak head coach Mehmet Durakovic is vying to clinch the Malaysia Cup football title for the sixth time when his charges take on Terengganu FC (TFC) in the final match at the Shah Alam Stadium, tomorrow.

The 53-year-old Australian had won the Malaysia Cup title thrice, as player in three straight season — 1995, 1996 and 1997 – and twice as coach in 2014 and 2015 with Selangor.

“This team is totally a new team except our import player, Leandro who had won the Malaysia Cup in 2015 under my guidance with Selangor.

“Playing in the Shah Alam Stadium will always be a great memory for me as a coach and a player, and hopefully I will have the same kind of feelings when we play in tomorrow’s match,” he told a pre-match press conference at the Shah Alam Stadium here today.

Nonethless, Durakovic remained very wary of the threats the TFC could pose as the Turtles squad was on high spirit to end their 17-year drought to clinch the Malaysia Cup, which they last won in 2001.

Meanwhile, TFC head coach Irfan Bakti Abu Salim admitted that his charges were indeed in high spirit and excited to play against Perak tomorrow as most of them had never played in the final of Malaysia Cup.

“I can see that they are very fit and in high spirit to face Perak. Almost all of them are young players who are so determined to clinch the Malaysia Cup title.

“This will be the second most challenging match for us after we successfully defeated the defending champion Johor Darul Ta’zim in the semi finals,” the 67-year-old coach said, adding that both team now have 50-50 chances of winning the cup.

For the record, Perak and Terengganu had played against each other in two Malaysia Cup final before.

Perak emerged champion in the 1988 edition after defeating the Turtles squad 5-3 in penalty shoot-out, while Terengganu beat Perak 2-1 to win the 2001 edition.

-- BERNAMA