KUALA LUMPUR – Now that Kuala Lumpur City FC has regained its footing under Croatian manager Bojan Hodak, could tonight’s Malaysia Cup final against Johor Darul Taa’zim (JDT) at the Bukit Jalil stadium mark a resurgence for the Malaysia Super League football team, who last took home the prestigious trophy 32 years ago in 1989?
Hodak told The Vibes that this will be a new beginning for Kuala Lumpur City and their fans, adding that the football club will once again become a force to be reckoned with in Malaysian football.
As the underdogs in tonight’s match against JDT, Kuala Lumpur City will not be under any pressure, said the former player, as nobody had expected the City boys to qualify for the Malaysia Cup final in the first place.
“My boys are looking forward to tonight’s game, but they are not feeling any pressure. I believe that JDT will feel the pressure as they are the favourites, and everyone is expecting them to win.”
“JDT is going to try to get an early goal and control the match, but we have our strategy and plan to stop them. We will try to block them in the first half and press them in the second half.
“I believe that we can win this. We just need to stick to the plan,” he said.
Despite Kuala Lumpur City being a tour de force in Malaysian football during the 80’s and early 90’s under the late Chow Kwai Lam, the football club – of late – has been languishing in the doldrums, and on a number of occasions, had even been relegated from topflight football.
“The goal is to make Kuala Lumpur City a force to be reckoned with again but it will take some time to reach the heights of the other top teams in the Super League.
Meanwhile, when ardent Kuala Lumpur supporter Pradeep Poobalan − who will be in Bukit Jalil to watch the final − was contacted by The Vibes, he said that he was glad that Hodak has transformed the team to be a major force in this year's Malaysia Cup.
“This was unexpected because KL did fairly well in the Super League and to be in the Malaysia Cup final against a team like JDT is great for the fans. It is time for the City team to rise again in Malaysian football.
“In top footballing nations, such as England, Italy, France and Germany, clubs in their capital cities are always competitive and since they represent the (football) core of their nation, these clubs should be able to get investors.
“KL City team must follow in their footsteps − as in to be (more) competitive in our country’s football competitions. Since KL is the hub for major businesses, sponsorship should not be difficult.
“Hopefully, KL management can raise the standards of the team to be in a better position to challenge competitors next season,” said the 35-year-old businessman. − The Vibes, November 30, 2021
