I hope everybody remain calm as there is no need to push the panic button. I still believe that the team can get through to the next round.
Robert Alberts, Sarawak head coach
KUCHING: Sarawak head coach Robert Alberts urged football fans in Sarawak to remain calm and there is no need to hit the panic button despite the Crocs gotten trampled 6-0 by Pahang during their Malaysia Cup Group D encounter on Tuesday.
“I hope everybody remain calm as there is no need to push the panic button. I still believe that the team can get through to the next round,” commented Alberts during an interview with The Borneo Post yesterday.
What went wrong at the Darul Makmur Stadium on Tuesday was anybody’s guess as one could only wonder did Pahang played brilliantly or was it due to a lacklustre display by the Crocs for them to have suffered one of the biggest and crushing losses in the history of Sarawak football.
Alberts provided the answer as he admitted that Pahang were brilliant during the match and they controlled the game right from the start. The Elephants were consistent.
He too lamented that the Crocs were not playing like their usual self. Perhaps it was due to the tight schedule of the Malaysia Cup competition.
“We gave Pahang too much space. They capitalised on our mistakes and we were severely punished by it,” said Alberts.
The Crocs let in two before the breather and the demolition continued right through the final whistle.
“We were also not aggressive enough in our game. In the end, they had the better game,” revealed Alberts.
At the end, double champions Pahang demolished Sarawak with a tennis scoreline.
The six goals were scored by Mohd Fauzi Roslan in the 32nd, 45th and 87th minute, Mohd Hafiz Kamal (60th), Boris Kochkin (70th) and R. Gopinathan (90th minute).
Meanwhile, champions for 32 times, Selangor recovered from two winless outings to record their first victory by defeating T-Team 1-0 in another Group D match at Stadium Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Kuala Terengganu.
The solitary goal was netted by Mohd Safiq Rahim in the 79th minute through a penalty.
It was learned that Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) has called for an emergency meeting today at 5.30pm to discuss the appalling lost to Pahang. Efforts to reach FAS officials for further information and comments were unsuccessful.
Sarawak will again face-off with Pahang this coming Saturday at Stadium Negeri.
The Crocs will have the chance to avenge Tuesday’s painful defeat in front of their own crowd.