T-Team coach predicts Terengganu will win Malaysia Cup

A little brotherly help from T-Team may just be what Terengganu will need in their quest to win the Malaysia Cup on Saturday.

T-Team coach Yunus Alif said the Kuala Terengganu team may have failed to get the better of Negri Sembilan in the semi-finals but they did learn a thing or two on how to exploit the weaknesses of the 2009 champions.

He said if it had not been for his team's defensive frailties especially without first choice goalkeeper Syamsuri Mustaffa, Negri Sembilan would not have made it to the final.

"Basically, they are a very good team now that most of their key players are back from injuries and in terms of experience, they are way up there among the best, but they are certainly not without faults as we managed to breach their defence on three occasions in the semi-finals but unfortunately they hit back with six goals," said Yunus.
 

Yunus said Negri goalkeeper Farizal Marlias, who is also a national player, is among the best in the country and the same can be said of centre-backs Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak and Norhafiz Zamani Misbah.

"But fullbacks Irwan Fadzli Idrus and Mohd Alif Samsuddin are a different story and more often than not, T-Team managed to find a way into the penalty box past the two players.

"That is where I see Terengganu having a slight advantage as speedy Ashaari Shamsuddin and nifty Joseph Kallang Tie will run rings round the two defenders," he said.

But then again, Yunus said Negri have S. Kunalan, who made the right side of T-Team's defence his own in the semi-finals, who could cause similar damage to Terengganu.

"I can see Mazlizam Mohamad having a torrid time trying to catch up with Kunalan, and the whole Terengganu backline will have to hold firm especially when Negri's Shukor Adan is in his element, controlling the engine room," said Yunus, who predicted Terengganu to come home with their second major trophy this year.