B. Satianathan has taken everything in his stride but the current wet weather has thrown a spanner in his training for Selangor for Saturday’s first-leg Malaysia Cup quarter-final against Johor Darul Takzim – the six-time Malaysian Super League champions.
The first-leg match will be played at the Larkin Stadium – the Home of the Southern Tigers – while the return leg will be played at the Shah Alam Stadium on Oct 26 on the eve of the Festival of Lights, popularly known as Deepavali.
Satianathan and several other players of Indian origin in the Selangor team celebrate Deepavali and they wonder why no consideration was given by those who decided on the Malaysia Cup fixtures.
Putting that aside Satianthan is not in a rush in deciding on his team for the Larkin match after skipper Regan Taylor came down with an injury and did not train on Thursday. Also on the crock list are Sandro da Silva and Syazwan Zainon. The trio, however, will be in the traveling party to Johor Bahru.
“I will take a wait and see approach before deciding on the team. The current rainy spell has not helped our cause. We had to change our training schedule every day to suit the situation,” said Satianathan.
“The show goes on and we have a mission to accomplish in Larkin. Getting away goals and a positive result is not impossible with the right tactics and strategies. We are aware that JDT has a strong reputation playing at home.
“There are several other plus factors that favor JDT and we have to cut that out. JDT is the best team in the country with the best football facilities at their disposal.”
While the Red Giants are chasing their dream 34th Malaysia Cup title, JDT, on the other hand, hope to regain the most sought after silverware in Malaysian football they last won in 2017. RIZAL ABDULLAH
