Selangor MB and FAS president Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (left) and Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad president Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar at the Selangor team sponsorship announcement yesterday. — Pic: YAZIT RAZALI
SELANGOR coach K. Devan may not want to openly admit it, but the treble chase is on for the FA Cup champions.
Selangor are on course to repeat Kedah’s triple haul of the Malaysia Cup, Super League and FA Cup titles of the last two years after overturning a one-goal deficit to run out 2-1 winners against Pahang in an MSL match in Kuantan on Tuesday.
The win helped the Klang Valley side maintain pressure on Perlis, who retained their one-point lead over Selangor after a comfortable 3-1 win over whipping boys Police in Paroi.
With striker Safee Sali struggling to get into the game, skipper Amri Yahyah was pushed forward by Devan and quickly cancelled Badrul Hisani Rahman’s 55th minute strike 10 minutes later before Fitri Shazwan Raduwan scored the winner with his first senior goal in the 69th minute to ruin Dollah Salleh’s first match in charge of Pahang.
The win prompted FA of Selangor president Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to call upon the team to capture the other two titles at a reception for the FA Cup winning team in Shah Alam yesterday as he handed cash incentives of about RM200,000 to players and officials.
“We will concentrate on the league first as we are in a very good position and stand a good chance to finish on top,” he said. “If you look at the quality and spirit in the side and with the management supporting us all the way, the team will do well.
“But to win the treble we will have to work very hard. It is much easier saying it than doing it.”
But if there is one thing Selangor players need not worry is financial security.
The Selangor state government’s investment arm Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad announced it is forking out RM6.5 million in sponsorship for the team this season.
“We will work hard and play to the best of our abilities in every competition. The players are quite happy with this reward which will give us the boost we need to fight our way forward,” said Amri.
Selangor will be strengthened by the return from injury of midfielder K. Nanthakumar and forward S. Sritharan as competition for places in the team becomes keener.
