KUALA NERUS – Terengganu FC (TFC) head coach Tomislav Steinbruckner has conceded that preparations for the Super League match against Penang FC tomorrow night will be affected by the absence of two leading players.
According to the Croatian-born manager, team captain Habib Haroon will be a non-starter, having been suspended after receiving three yellow cards in the match against Sabah FC, while Adisak Kraisorn is still nursing a back injury.
Tomislav is contemplating a minor reshuffle to ensure TFC’s defence will not be breached when they host the Panthers at Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium.
“We started our training right after coming back from Sabah last Friday. Preparation is normal...like always.
“But we may have some problems because Habib was suspended after three yellow cards and Adisak is also injured...he will need maybe two or three weeks to recover from a back injury,” he said when met at a training session at Gong Badak Sports Complex here.
In the meantime, Steinbruckner reminded his players to be wary of four Penang FC players, who he believes can pose a threat to the team.
They include two former TFC squad players, Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat and Rahmat Makasuf, as well as import players Soony Saad and Adriano Narcizo, who need to be closely guarded so that they do not move freely.
“We know Penang play a physical and direct approach. They have many quality players. I hope TFC can play their best and collect full points to get in a good position (in the Super League),” he said.
TFC are currently eighth in the Super League after collecting 14 points from 11 matches and are closely followed by Penang FC in ninth position with the same number of points, but separated by only one goal. – Bernama, May 23, 2023
