After being written off as no-hopers at the start of the season, Police silenced their critics by qualifying for the Malaysia Cup on merit after finishing third in the Premier League. With a side largely made up of police personnel, coach K. Thayanathan's squad finished strongly and will be out to act as spoilers against more established teams in Group D.
Police open their campaign against Kuala Lumpur in Paroi on Tuesday and Thayanathan is relishing the prospect of his side causing an upset or two against Super League sides KL, Selangor and Kuala Terengganu T-Team.
"We surprised a few people with the run we had this season and we beat teams which spent a lot of money like Sime Darby and Armed Forces. Not many expected us to qualify for the Malaysia Cup, nobody gave us a chance but we qualified on merit, unlike the last few times when we were pre-qualified.
"But this Malaysia Cup is going to be tough. We will go into each match and fight to the best of our abilities and see what happens," said Thaiyanathan, who is into his fifth year as Police coach.
Police only have three contract players in Fazuan Abdullah, N. K. Dhurai and Afif Amiruddin, and of the trio Fazuan has carried the goalscoring burden with nine goals along with Khairul Izuan Abdullah (11).
Thaiyanathan declined to bring in players on loan for the tournament given the limited financial resources of the Police FA but he argued that there are few quality players from non-Malaysia Cup teams for him to sign anyway.
"We have three contract players and the rest are all from the force. We have qualified for the Malaysia Cup with these players and we will continue with them. I did not see any player from other teams who interested me."
Police will be making their fifth appearance in the Malaysia Cup, but only the second time on merit, having achieved their best result in 2008 when they reached the quarter-finals only to go out to Selangor on the away goals rule.
Police open their campaign against Kuala Lumpur in Paroi on Tuesday and Thayanathan is relishing the prospect of his side causing an upset or two against Super League sides KL, Selangor and Kuala Terengganu T-Team.
"We surprised a few people with the run we had this season and we beat teams which spent a lot of money like Sime Darby and Armed Forces. Not many expected us to qualify for the Malaysia Cup, nobody gave us a chance but we qualified on merit, unlike the last few times when we were pre-qualified.
"But this Malaysia Cup is going to be tough. We will go into each match and fight to the best of our abilities and see what happens," said Thaiyanathan, who is into his fifth year as Police coach.
Police only have three contract players in Fazuan Abdullah, N. K. Dhurai and Afif Amiruddin, and of the trio Fazuan has carried the goalscoring burden with nine goals along with Khairul Izuan Abdullah (11).
Thaiyanathan declined to bring in players on loan for the tournament given the limited financial resources of the Police FA but he argued that there are few quality players from non-Malaysia Cup teams for him to sign anyway.
"We have three contract players and the rest are all from the force. We have qualified for the Malaysia Cup with these players and we will continue with them. I did not see any player from other teams who interested me."
Police will be making their fifth appearance in the Malaysia Cup, but only the second time on merit, having achieved their best result in 2008 when they reached the quarter-finals only to go out to Selangor on the away goals rule.
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