Can Terengganu better last year's record?

Kuantan: Problems are now part and parcel within  the Terengganu Proton Kings' Gold Cup camp.

The East Coast's remaining team in this year's edition will thus have its hands full in the first leg away semi-final in Kangar on Sunday 1 December (kickoff at 8.30 pm). 

Already without a few injured key players who are yet to recover, upon arrival in Kangar, three other players are being hit by influenza. Manager Nor Zaidi Mohamed tells Bola Pantai Timur, " Both our two goalkeepers and a midfielder are struck by flu."

Alif Hafifi is among the injured players who will miss the semi-final

Notwithstanding the problems, the big question among Terengganu fans remains - whether the last year's semi-finalist can go a rung higher to the final this year and eventually end a 13-year wait by emerging as champion. 

Terengganu players cooling down after training

Nor Zaidi tells Bola Pantai Timur, "We shall take it one step at a time and will do our best in Kangar now that we are in the semi-final again." He adds that the team has been devising an appropriate strategy.

Nor Zaidi: Appropriate strategy

Quips coach Mustapha Kamal Wahab, " We have prepared what we believe to be the right tactical approach to the game against Perlis. The players have to work hard and be disciplined in working well as a team."

For the record, Terengganu lost to Perlis 0-3 last year in the group match. However it managed to make it into the semi-final against Kedah, another semi-finalist against Selangor this year. In last year's semi-final Terengganu drew with Kedah twice; 0-0 away and 1-1 at home. Kedah made it to the final on an away-goal rule.

Both Nor Zaidi and Mustapha request all Terengganu fans to pray for the team's success.