IF Kuala Lumpur hope to reach the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals, nothing less than a win will do against Police in their opening Group D match in Paroi tomorrow.
The three-time former champions have not progressed past the Malaysia Cup group stage since 1992 and face a difficult task to end that run with heavyweights Selangor and Kuala Terengganu T-Team also to contend with.
Scoring goals has been a perennial headache for coach Razip Ismail this season and the absence of talented striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, who is with the national Olympic squad, has not helped matters.
Scoring goals has been a perennial headache for coach Razip Ismail this season and the absence of talented striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, who is with the national Olympic squad, has not helped matters.
But the return of playmaker Azwan Malek from an anterior cruciate ligament injury provides KL with a glimmer of hope after a campaign which saw them flirt with relegation from the Super League before securing survival on the final day.
"It has been frustrating sitting on the sidelines and unable to help the team," said Azwan, 29, who scored one goal in six starts before suffering his injury in late February.
"Although my injury happened five months ago, it was only two months later that I underwent the operation because of issues relating to insurance coverage.
"Although my injury happened five months ago, it was only two months later that I underwent the operation because of issues relating to insurance coverage.
"Three months is not enough to recover from an ACL injury but I've been able to train for the last two weeks and only my fitness is an issue. I need to play matches to get back in shape.
"Whether I can play from the start remains to be seen but I hope to help KL at some stage of the Malaysia Cup," said Azwan, who is likely to be included in the squad for the trip to Paroi.
Azwan, one of KL's most experienced players, appeared as a substitute in the team's last two friendly matches against Johor FC (1-2) and Sime Darby (0-1) before the short Hari Raya break and impressed with his ability to command the midfield and measure the right passes for the forwards.
KL have badly missed the midfielder's presence and Razip could use an experienced hand as he seeks a winning start in the Malaysia Cup, a tournament the former rightback won with KL from 1987-89.
"He has just returned to training and has played part of two friendly matches. I'll have a chat with him on Tuesday (tomorrow) to see if he can play against Police," said Razip after yesterday's training session.
No comments:
Post a Comment