Penang all pumped up to end football gold drought

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- This year’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) men’s football final is set to be an intriguing one as it pits Penang, who are gunning for their first-ever gold medal, against three-time champions Terengganu.

Penang and Terengganu, who won a hattrick of gold medals from 2006-2010, will clash in the final at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras tomorrow.

The Penang team, coached by Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli, may not have won the men’s football gold before but they are highly motivated to end their gold quest after suffering two final heartbreaks - in the 2000 and 2002 editions.

Former national striker Ahmad Rizal described their qualification for the final as the best-ever achievement for his team, who he began forming in January for the President’s Cup competition and this year’s Sukma. 

“Maybe not many felt we could come this far but, deep inside, I knew when I first started forming the team that they had the ability and capability to go far because of their character and the spirit of togetherness.

“Everyone knows we lost both times we made the finals in 2000 and 2002. But now that we have made the final, team morale is at its highest and the players will give it their everything come final match day,” he told a pre-match press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium today.  

Commenting on Terengganu, Akmal Rizal said the Turtles have one of the country’s best football development programmes and a high-quality lineup of players.

“But, in football, any team that is willing to put in the hard yard and makes the fewer mistakes can emerge victorious,” he said, while admitting that his team are ready to slog it out for 120 minutes, if necessary, and also face the possibility of a penalty shootout.

Meanwhile, Penang skipper Mohd Danial Irfan Mohd Nadzri, who was the hero when he scored the winning goal in their 1-0 win over the Federal Territories in the semi-finals, hoped that his teammates would continue to work together in their quest to make history.

“We are in a good moment… we were not the favourites to reach the final but we are motivated to prove to everyone that we deserve to be here and all my players are ready to take on Terengganu.

“Terengganu are one of the best teams in Malaysia but that doesn’t bother us. As players, we have to face any team put in front of us,” he said.

-- BERNAMA