Surprise package Sime Darby FC are ready to throw caution to the wind when they make their debut in the Malaysia Cup next month.
The Premier League outfit were the last team to check in for the 16-team competition via the playoffs, upstaging Super League side Pahang 6-0 on aggregate.
Sime Darby FC secretary and assistant team manager Zainal Amat described their qualification for the prestigious competition as something that “was beyond out expectations”.
“If there is one thing we can hope for in the Malaysia Cup competition ... it is the element of surprise,” said Zainal yesterday.
“Nobody expected us to get past Pahang in the playoffs but we pulled it off ... and by a huge margin at that! I am confident the boys can raise their game against the big guns.”
Sime Darby FC have been drawn with fancied Terengganu, Negri Sembilan and Premier League champions PKNS FC in Group B of the Malaysia Cup competition.
Zainal said the team management “are only expecting us to put up a credible performance ... so there is no undue pressure”.
Sime Darby FC, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, have set themselves a target of earning promotion to the Super League in 2013 by finishing as one of the top two teams in the second tier.
“It will be tough next season because we will have Pahang and Perlis playing in the Premier League. We will have to strengthen our squad for this big challenge,” said Zainal.
The squad, under coach Ismail Zakaria, will be banking on inspirational skipper Mohd Nor Ismail, and strikers Faisal Esahar and Mohizam Shah Dawood Shah to lead their charge.
The Premier League outfit were the last team to check in for the 16-team competition via the playoffs, upstaging Super League side Pahang 6-0 on aggregate.
Sime Darby FC secretary and assistant team manager Zainal Amat described their qualification for the prestigious competition as something that “was beyond out expectations”.
“If there is one thing we can hope for in the Malaysia Cup competition ... it is the element of surprise,” said Zainal yesterday.
“Nobody expected us to get past Pahang in the playoffs but we pulled it off ... and by a huge margin at that! I am confident the boys can raise their game against the big guns.”
Sime Darby FC have been drawn with fancied Terengganu, Negri Sembilan and Premier League champions PKNS FC in Group B of the Malaysia Cup competition.
Zainal said the team management “are only expecting us to put up a credible performance ... so there is no undue pressure”.
Sime Darby FC, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, have set themselves a target of earning promotion to the Super League in 2013 by finishing as one of the top two teams in the second tier.
“It will be tough next season because we will have Pahang and Perlis playing in the Premier League. We will have to strengthen our squad for this big challenge,” said Zainal.
The squad, under coach Ismail Zakaria, will be banking on inspirational skipper Mohd Nor Ismail, and strikers Faisal Esahar and Mohizam Shah Dawood Shah to lead their charge.
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