The clash between the top two teams in Malaysia Premier League between Penang and Kuala Lumpur tonight is likened to the final match with three points that will put the winners in a comfortable position as champions.
Armed with the unbeaten record held by both teams after seven matches, it is certain that the action of Penang and Kuala Lumpur will take place in an unpredictable way.
Penang head coach, Manzoor Azwira, did not deny that many interesting elements will happen when his squad travel to Kuala Lumpur while respecting the strength of the opponent which he considers to have a quality comparable to the CIMB Super League team.
However, that does not mean that Manzoor is afraid of the ability possessed by the squad coached by Nidzam Adzha Yusoff, instead the Harimau Kumbang squad is ready with its own plans to trap Kuala Lumpur.
“Kuala Lumpur is actually a team equivalent to the Super League if you look at the quality and the players they have but we will fight hard to get three valuable points.
“This victory not only puts us closer to getting a slot into the Super League but also puts us in a good position to be the Premier League champions.
“I am also more than happy with the improvement shown by the team, especially since the presence of Lee Chang-hoon who played in the last two games because he helped Endrick and Casagrade a lot in attacking department,” he said.
At the same time, Manzoor also wants to hunt for victory as a sign of gratitude to Penang’s loyal supporters who never tire of being behind the team.
In fact, what moved him was the response from Penang supporters who were willing to come to Penang International Airport last week to celebrate the players and officials after winning with Johor DT II in Larkin.
“Indeed, I feel sad that the supporters could not come to the city to give support because if you look on social media, there are so many comments from supporters.
“If we manage to beat Kuala Lumpur, I want to give these three points to the supporters and it must not be forgotten that some of them sacrificed time and energy to come to the airport to meet us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur’s experienced stalwart, Shukor Adan, did not want his comrades to be too stressed to seek victory but focused only to avoid defeat to Penang.
If they manage to get home one point, it will be enough for Kuala Lumpur to ensure that the competition is still open to both teams chasing the Premier League title.
“Most importantly after the match, we must try to bring all points because looking at the latest performance of Penang, we can not take this match lightly.
“The strength of Penang really lies in its import players who have played in the Super League and when they are in the Pemier League, that does not give them much trouble to play well.
“Besides that, I also know many local Penang players and they are all quality and experienced, so this combination is one of the ingredients that makes them a team that deserves respect,” he said.