Muhammad Faiz could not escape the attention of Terengganu’s defence on Wednesday night.
KUCHING: The Sarawak football team are happy to be tagged as underdogs for the 18th Sukma despite enjoying home ground advantage.
Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) president Datu Sudarsono Osman said that being non-favourites reduces the pressure for the team and their Bosnian coach Fuad Grbesic. The state team is drawn in Group C with Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu.
Sarawak opened their Sukma campaign against the high fancied Terengganu side on Wednesday night.
Half of the Terengganu team play in the top tier Malaysian Super League while Sarawak could only boast of having the trio of Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin, Rodney Celvin Akwensivie and Tommy Mawat Mada in the Super League.
The home team fought bravely to force a goalless draw.
“We are satisfied with the one point. The focus is now turned to the next game and qualify for the next round. We will take it from there.
“Both teams in Group C are superior than Sarawak. We will be playing as underdogs but we will make use of our home advantage and the crowd, to help us achieve some good upsets and qualify to the knockout stage,” Sudarsono told reporters after the match at Stadium Negeri here.
Team manager Ahmad Zaki Zaidi was full of praise for his boys and highlighted their strong fighting spirit and discipline in maintaining their formation and executing their tactics.
“This is definitely an improved performance. The team defended well and managed to create a few chances. Sarawak were beaten by both teams during its President’s Cup encounter, so achieving a draw is a good result.
“Terengganu will play Kuala Lumpur in the next Group C match, so their result will help with our planning for the next game,” he said.
Ahmad Zaki pointed out that it has been quite a while since the team managed to assembly a full strength squad. He cited the three players called up to the senior Sarawak team and the recall of two players from Bukit Jalil and one in Melaka to strengthen the team.
“Now that they are here, we are happy that they played well and complemented the rest of the team. Our next target is to secure three points against Kuala Lumpur and qualify for the quarter-final.” he added.
Ahmad Zaki also mentioned goalkeeper Philip Pengiran Biai and substitute attacker Awang Muhammad Faiz Hazziq Awang Fathi among those who performed well in the first game.
Sarawak were champions when the state hosted Sukma in 1990. The team will next play against Kuala Lumpur on Sunday at Stadium Negeri (8.15pm). — by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith