KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Lumpur City FC (KL City) defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco attributed the team’s poor start of the 2023 Super League season to inconsistent training grounds.
Speaking to reporters after the match against giants Selangor FC last night, the 29-year-old Australian said he is concerned with the situation as it is also causing the squad substantial injuries, thus affecting their performance.
“I can probably list 14 players that have been injured in the last three months, that is incredible.
“Yes, a lot of that is down to bad luck, but we think it is also because we do not have a consistent training ground.
“Although this is out of my scope, I do not want to see any of my teammates injured because it is taking a toll on the team. We have to find out why and resolve this issue,” he said.
The City Boys fell 3-1 to Selangor FC last night at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Cheras after they initially had the lead in the 23rd minute before two penalties awarded to Selangor saw the lead switch sides.
“We have conceded 10 goals so far this season, four of them from penalties and two own goals. This is very frustrating as a defender.
“I thought we started the game well, but I would be lying if I did not say I am very disappointed with how the match went.
“But this is the time for us to show our character. I am very grateful to the fans who show their support, but I am devastated because I do not like to lose a derby,” he told reporters after the match.
Despite the shaky start to the year, Gallifuoco, who played for Italian Serie A side Spezia Calcio before joining the City Boys in 2021, remains optimistic ahead of a long season that lies ahead.
“In my first year here we won one game in the first three, the second year we only had one point in three games.
“Every year since I have been here, we have had a slow start, but in the end, we manage to finish well.
“So I am very optimistic because on paper this is the best team that we have had. We just need to go back to training and work hard because it is far from over,” he added.
Having been in the country for more than two years, Giancarlo said he would not turn down the opportunity to represent Harimau Malaya one day.
“I have incredible admiration for this country and its people. I have been here for three years and have been lucky to have had legends in my team who are now family to me.
“When we played in the AFC Cup, it felt like we were representing Malaysia because we had the whole country supporting us.
“If I was blessed to have the opportunity to play for Malaysia, I would be forever grateful because this is somewhere I see myself for the rest of my life,” he added.
KL City made it to the AFC Cup final last year but fell short of the title after losing to Omani club Al-Seeb 3-0 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. – The Vibes, April 1, 2023
