Pahang head coach Dollah Salleh is not one to throw in the towel under any circumstances and Saturday’ FA Cup first-leg semi-final against PKNP (Perak SEDC) is no exception despite the absence of three players.
Skipper Matthew Davies (main pix), Singapore international and utility player Safuwan Baharudin and midfielder Nor Azam Azih are all out on suspension for the home match at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan.
Instead, Dollah is counting on the reserves to bring in the desired result tomorrow and is confident that whoever takes the field will deliver – more so after Pahang’s impressive 3-1 win over Negri Sembilan in Paroi in a mid-week match.
New signing Issey Nakajima Farran has shown that his partnership with former international Norshahrul Idlan Talaha is showing positive results. Nakajima scored a brace while Norshahrul netted one at Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Paroi in the morale-boosting victory over Negri.
Hitman Patrick Cruz is likely to come into Dollah’s match plans for the FA Cup match, having recovered from a thigh injury.
“We need a healthy win against PKNP. The Perak club is not an easy team to beat but we are confident of a good win to be in a better position for the return-leg,” said Dollah from Kuantan.
The return leg will be played at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh on July 1. The other FA Cup semi-final is between Selangor and PKNS FC. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
