KUALA NERUS – Terengganu FC (TFC) coach Nafuzi Zain is calling his squad not to take lightly the threat of Kuching City FC in the FA Cup quarter-final match at Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium (SSMZA) tomorrow night.
According to the Kelantan-born coach, although TFC is seen to have an advantage due to its Super League status, they have to win to advance as the challenge at knockout stage is different from the league.
He said, therefore, the Turtles Squad cannot be complacent and must be alert to any surprises in the game that can crush their hopes in the competition.
“On paper we (TFC) may have an advantage as we are meeting a Premier League side (Kuching City FC) in the quarter-finals.
“But the fact is that we will be more pressured due to the expectations of local fans who want us to progress to the next level,” he said when met yesterday afternoon.
When asked about the line-up for tomorrow night, Nafuzi said he has yet to make a decision as some of his key players are still injured.
However, he said, the situation is not affecting the Turtles’ chances of winning.
“Among the players who are injured and may not be able to play are Faisal Abdul Halim, goalkeeper, Suhaimi Hussin and Manuel Ott who suffered injuries in the previous two matches,” he said.
Nafuzi said the thrill of facing the match tomorrow night was also in part that he would meet the team of his former guru, Irfan Bakti Abu Salim who had coached the Terengganu squad from 2007 to 2009. – Bernama, July 22, 2022
