Veteran striker Indra Putra still aiming for more trophies

He has won almost every honour in football in the country, but Indra Putra Mahayuddin is still licking his lips in anticipation of winning the Malaysia Cup yet again.

 

The 30-year-old T-Team striker is only a few matches away from his second Malaysia Cup medal after his team clinched a crucial 2-1 away victory to Sabah in the quarter-final first-leg tie on Monday.

Another win or a draw in Kuala Terengganu today will take Malaysia Cup debutants T-Team to a semi-final date with either Negri Sembilan or Felda United FC.

The Perak-born Indra, who finally won the Malaysia Cup with Kelantan last year after twice being beaten in the final in 2008 and 2009, said the place in the semi-finals is now for T-Team to lose.

"We have done the hard part at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu. Now all we need to do is have a positive result in our own backyard," said Indra who had won the FA Cup with Perak in 2004 and Pahang a year later.

"I was fortunate enough to score both goals in the first-leg tie and I hope my name will be on the score sheet again on Friday (today)."

The former national player, who had also won the Super League with Pahang in 2005, said the road to the final is less treacherous for the Kuala Terengganu Football Association team as they will not have to meet any of the top three Super League teams in the quarter-finals or semi-finals.

Meanwhile, T-Team coach Yunus Alif said his team will have to be physically and mentally prepared to continue their march through the knockout stage of the competition.

"There is no easy match from now on and we can no longer afford to make even the slightest of mistake," he added.

"But we have quite a number of experienced players who have 'been there and done that' such as Indra, Subri Sulong, Rosdi Talib, Zairo Anuar Zailani and Norfazly Alias, to guide us through to the final," said the coach.

Yunus said except for midfielder Tengku Hasbullah Raja Hassan, who picked up a thigh injury in Kota Kinabalu, all the other players are available for selection.

"I did not risk right-back Subri against Sabah on Monday but he should be able to play some part in the return match. The same is true for striker Mohd Fitri Omar."