# PKNS coach Elavarasan hopes Guerra will regain his scoring touch
# ‘Selangor are still the favourites but we will take them with gusto’ – Elavarasan
By Rizal Abdullah
Defending champions Selangor might have been in the limelight for wrong reasons of late but they are still the kingpins of Malaysia Cup says Premier League club side PKNS FC head coach E. Elavarasan.
The two teams clash in the first-leg Malaysia Cup quarter-final match at the Shah Alam Stadium on Sunday with PKNS playing host. The Shah Alam Stadium is also the home home venue for PKNS after they shifted their home base from the Hang Jebat Stadium in Malacca.
Selangor, winners of the prestigious Malaysia Cup for a record 33 times, are having troubled times of late with the latest “headbutting” incident happening in Kuching in midweek during a Super League match against Sarawak.
The match ended 1-1 but it was the clash between Selangor Nigerian import Ugo Ukah and former international Bunyamin Umar who came to blows towards the tailend of the match.
During the punch up it is alleged Ukah headbutted Bunyamin which left the latter bleeding from the forehead and needed medical attention in a hospital. Caretake coach K. Gunalan and company were left stunned by the headbutting incident and have left the matter at the hands of the team’s management.
Putting that aside Elavarasan is hoping that his team’s march to the FA Cup final earlier this season will “give PKNS players the confidence to face an experienced team like Selangor” in a big match.
In the FA Cup final Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) were given a run for their money before losing 2-1.
“Selangor are not only experienced but they have a rich history in the Malaysia Cup. As defending champions they will not be easy meat but I am confident my players will take the game to Selangor,” said Elavarasan.
“They (Selangor) may have their woes but it does not concern us. What happened in Kuching or what problems Selangor have do mean an easy ride. The Malaysia Cup is at stake and it is the most sought after silverware and it includes us.”
Elavarasan is also hoping that reaching the (Malaysia Cup) quarter-finals will rekindle the fire in his Argentine hot-shot Gabriel Guerra and bring in the goals that seem to have dried up from the striker.
Guerra scored 14 goals for PKNS in the league – one more from compatriot Juan Manuel Cobelli. Chile-born Palestine international Matias Jadue has 11 league goals and three in the Malaysia Cup.
First choice goalkeeper G. Jeevananthan will not feature in the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals as he is still nursing a back injury. His place is taken by Nor Hafiz Aris with Remezey Che Ros on the bench.
“These two keepers have shown vast improvement in their overall game under coach Karel Stromsik,” added Elavarasan.
Selangor are also likely to field their Liberian striker Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh for the match. Wleh is on loan from PKNS and under FIFA rules the player on loan should not play against his club.
“I don’t have news on Ronaldinho if he is playing or otherwise but we are ready for any eventuality,” said Elavarasan.
