GEORGE TOWN: Coach Irfan Bakti seems to have knack for producing Golden Boot winners. In 2009, as coach of Perlis, his striker Nizaruddin Yusof emerged as the top scorer with 18 goals.
Irfan joined Terengganu last year and turned midfielder Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin into a top goal poacher – also with 18 goals.
This season, the Terengganu coach weaved his magic wand again and his top striker Abdul Hadi Yahaya grabbed the Golden Boot award with a 20-goal haul.
What made Hadi’s feat remarkable is the fact that going into Wednesday’s final Super League fixtures, it was Kelantan hotshot Norshahrul Idlan Talaha who was leading the way with 17 goals.
While Norshahrul scored two goals in their 2-1 win over Sabah to take his tally to 19, Hadi went on a rampage against Kuala Lumpur, scoring four of the goals in their 6-2 thumping.
That put Hadi on 20 goals – one more than Norshahrul.
Still, Hadi’s Golden Boot award is mere consolation for Terengganu, who missed out on the bigger prize – the Super League title.
Kelantan won the title with 56 points, followed by Terengganu on 53 points.
“Yes, I am disappointed that we missed out on the League title. But at least Hadi’s success in pipping Norshahrul to the Golden Boot award eases the pain somewhat,” Irfan said upon arrival in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.
“I am honoured to have produced another Golden Boot winner. It is a rare feat ... and one I can be proud of.”
For now Irfan, who will be performing his umrah next week, is not about to rest on his laurels.
With the Malaysia Cup looming large in September, Irfan has given his men just a week’s break.
“The Malaysia Cup competition will begin almost immediately after the Hari Raya festive period. On top of that, we will be going on a nine-day vacation in London later this month. So we have to train next week,” said Irfan.
“The Malaysia Cup is important to us and I am prepared to make my players train right through the fasting month.
“The only break they will get, after our London trip, is a three-day break for the Hari Raya celebrations.”
The London trip, Irfan said, “is a special reward by the Terengganu government for our FA Cup victory”.
Terengganu beat Kelantan 2-1 in extra time in the FA Cup final last month.
Irfan joined Terengganu last year and turned midfielder Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin into a top goal poacher – also with 18 goals.
This season, the Terengganu coach weaved his magic wand again and his top striker Abdul Hadi Yahaya grabbed the Golden Boot award with a 20-goal haul.
What made Hadi’s feat remarkable is the fact that going into Wednesday’s final Super League fixtures, it was Kelantan hotshot Norshahrul Idlan Talaha who was leading the way with 17 goals.
While Norshahrul scored two goals in their 2-1 win over Sabah to take his tally to 19, Hadi went on a rampage against Kuala Lumpur, scoring four of the goals in their 6-2 thumping.
That put Hadi on 20 goals – one more than Norshahrul.
Still, Hadi’s Golden Boot award is mere consolation for Terengganu, who missed out on the bigger prize – the Super League title.
Kelantan won the title with 56 points, followed by Terengganu on 53 points.
“Yes, I am disappointed that we missed out on the League title. But at least Hadi’s success in pipping Norshahrul to the Golden Boot award eases the pain somewhat,” Irfan said upon arrival in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.
“I am honoured to have produced another Golden Boot winner. It is a rare feat ... and one I can be proud of.”
For now Irfan, who will be performing his umrah next week, is not about to rest on his laurels.
With the Malaysia Cup looming large in September, Irfan has given his men just a week’s break.
“The Malaysia Cup competition will begin almost immediately after the Hari Raya festive period. On top of that, we will be going on a nine-day vacation in London later this month. So we have to train next week,” said Irfan.
“The Malaysia Cup is important to us and I am prepared to make my players train right through the fasting month.
“The only break they will get, after our London trip, is a three-day break for the Hari Raya celebrations.”
The London trip, Irfan said, “is a special reward by the Terengganu government for our FA Cup victory”.
Terengganu beat Kelantan 2-1 in extra time in the FA Cup final last month.
No comments:
Post a Comment