KOTA KINABALU – “I accept defeat, but we were not treated fairly (by the referee),” claimed Faisal Abdul Halim as he expressed his frustration following Selangor FC’s 2-1 defeat against Sabah FC last night.
He said it was difficult to accept the way his team lost concerning several incidents that occurred during the match.
Faisal, however, refused to speak in detail of those incidents that took place at Likas Stadium here, as he wished to avoid being penalised.
“We have worked hard, and I accept defeat, but not in this way. This is not good.
“The second goal was a foul and everybody could see it with their own eyes as the match was broadcast live.
“I am disappointed with the way we lost. Everyone knows it happens every year. As a player, I cannot say it directly, I cannot afford to pay fines and so on.
“I know many teams are not pleased with our performance and wanted to see Selangor fail, but we just wanted a fair game, and we have to be honest,” said the 25-year-old footballer when met after the match.
Meanwhile, team captain Brendan Gan said they had multiple chances to score more, and his squad must work harder to win a game away.
“We had multiple chances to finish this game, but I am not going to stand here and come up with excuses.
“We have to go back and look at ourselves and take the positives out of the game.
“We did have a lot of chances and good actions. Hopefully, we can convert those chances into a win next time.
“To be the best team, you have to perform on any pitch… whether at home or away. We strive to be the best possible team that we can be,” said the Australia-born player.
Last night’s match ended the Red Giants’ winning streak of four consecutive victories in the Super League, but it also ruined their good record in their last five meetings with the Rhinos since April 2021, which saw Selangor win three matches and draw twice.
Selangor currently retains its standing in the table with 22 points, while Sabah has climbed one spot to the third with 20 points. – The Vibes, April 28, 2023
