Monday, 17 October 2011

Selangor and Negeri Sembilan out to prevent an all Terengganu final

A first ever Malaysia Cup final between two teams from the same state will happen if Terengganu and T-Team overcome Selangor and Negri Sembilan respectively in the semi-finals.
Selangor and Negri, however, have vowed to prevent such a script as they eye the prestigious trophy.

The Red Giants, who have bounced back in style under interim coach P. Maniam, are determined to end their six-year drought by winning the Malaysia Cup for the 33rd time while Negri, under Azraai Khor Abdullah, want to qualify for their third successive final.


Both teams had difficult campaigns in the Super League and FA Cup due to injury problems and suspensions, which led to the resignation of their previous coaches.

 
Maniam has so far worked his magic on the Selangor team, who were a little disorientated before his appointment while Azraai, who previously led Kedah to a double treble season, is working hard to motivate his new team after taking over in April.

Selangor, who defeated Perak 4-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, face a confident Terengganu in the semi-finals with the Klang Valley team hosting the first leg at Shah Alam Stadium tomorrow.


Selangor need a favourable result in the first leg as the two-time Super League champions do not have a good record at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium.

They have not won in Kuala Terengganu in six meetings with four ending in draws over the past three seasons.

Selangor assistant team manager Datuk S. Sivasundaram said Selangor will do their part to stop an all-Terengganu Malaysia Cup final.


"We have peaked at the right time. I can expect an exciting semi-final as Terengganu are a good team," said Sivasundaram yesterday.

"We are not interested about past records. We just want to go far in the Malaysia Cup "

Negri, who edged Felda 3-1 on aggregate after extra-time in the second leg, travel to Kuala Terengganu for the first leg against T-Team.

The 2009 champions, however, could be without centre-back Norhafiz Misbah Zamani, who dislocated his shoulder in the first half of Friday's quarter-final second leg against Felda United in Paroi.

Azraai said: "Doctors managed to put his shoulder back into its position."

Azraai has been depending on veterans Hairuddin Omar and Idris Karim to create opportunities and score goals, and the duo have done well so far.

"We need to contain them especially Indra Putra Mahayuddin and Norfarhan Mohd, who are both key players in T-Team," said Azraai, whose first appearance in the Malaysia Cup final as a coach ended in disappointment when Kedah lost 1-0 to Perlis in 2004.

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