Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Long road for KL Plus
PETALING JAYA: Super League newcomers KL Plus FC are feeling the heat in the fast lane.
But they have coped well with it early on in the season to tag themselves as the surprise package in the 14-team competition. The squad under former Kuala Lumpur coach Mat Zan Mat Aris have full points from three matches thus far and they are in second place in the standings behind Selangor on goal difference.
“It’s a good start for my boys but it is just the beginning and we have a long way to go ahead,” said Mat Zan.
Team manager Husni Mohd Yusof said that playing in the top flight was a different ball game for KL Plus, who had competed in the lower Premier League for two seasons.
“Yes, we have got off to a strong start but the task to maintain it will certainly get more difficult,” said Husni.
KL Plus won their opening away game against Kelantan on Jan 3 by default. They were awarded three points and a 3-0 win because the FA of Malaysia (FAM) ruled that the hosts did not make proper preparations on the venue to stage the match.
In the next match, KL Plus edged Terengganu 2-1 and they returned with full points from Kuantan on Saturday after edging Pahang 1-0.
In their debut season in the M-League in 2006-07, KL Plus finished at the bottom of the Premier League but bounced back the following season to win promotion to the Super League as the runners-up to Kuala Muda Naza.
Mat Zan has only two national players in his side — centreback Norhafiz Zamani Misbah (pic) and leftback Irwan Fadli Idrus.
Among the other notable players in the team are Bobby Gonzales, Amir Shahreen Mubin, Mohd Fadzli Saari, Reshafiq Alwi, Shafiq Rahim, Ramesh Lai and Mohd Lot Abdullah.
KL Plus will aim to extend their winning run tonight against Penang at the KL Football Stadium in Cheras.
But they have coped well with it early on in the season to tag themselves as the surprise package in the 14-team competition. The squad under former Kuala Lumpur coach Mat Zan Mat Aris have full points from three matches thus far and they are in second place in the standings behind Selangor on goal difference.
“It’s a good start for my boys but it is just the beginning and we have a long way to go ahead,” said Mat Zan.
Team manager Husni Mohd Yusof said that playing in the top flight was a different ball game for KL Plus, who had competed in the lower Premier League for two seasons.
“Yes, we have got off to a strong start but the task to maintain it will certainly get more difficult,” said Husni.
KL Plus won their opening away game against Kelantan on Jan 3 by default. They were awarded three points and a 3-0 win because the FA of Malaysia (FAM) ruled that the hosts did not make proper preparations on the venue to stage the match.
In the next match, KL Plus edged Terengganu 2-1 and they returned with full points from Kuantan on Saturday after edging Pahang 1-0.
In their debut season in the M-League in 2006-07, KL Plus finished at the bottom of the Premier League but bounced back the following season to win promotion to the Super League as the runners-up to Kuala Muda Naza.
Mat Zan has only two national players in his side — centreback Norhafiz Zamani Misbah (pic) and leftback Irwan Fadli Idrus.
Among the other notable players in the team are Bobby Gonzales, Amir Shahreen Mubin, Mohd Fadzli Saari, Reshafiq Alwi, Shafiq Rahim, Ramesh Lai and Mohd Lot Abdullah.
KL Plus will aim to extend their winning run tonight against Penang at the KL Football Stadium in Cheras.
# posted by Me @ 4:47 PM 
