Mamadou starts with a brace for Turtles

Kuala Terengganu: After some earlier doubts, Terengganu striker, Guinean Mamadou Hady Barry, 27, made his 2014 Astro MSL debut here last night in style. He scored twice for Terengganu, enabling Turtles to win 2-1 after initially trailing PKNS FC  0-1.

Both Mamadou, 27, and fellow-striker, Brazilian Marcio de Souza, 33, only signed with Turtles about a week before the deadline for the registration in December. Against PKNS, both combined well with the other players in front of full capacity crowd against the highly-regarded Selangor club.

Asked by Bola Pantai Timur, Terengganu head coach Hj Abdul Rahman Ibrahim shares his thoughts on his two foreign strikers.

Abd Rahman: positive remarks on Mamadou, Marcio

He says, "Mamadou is hardworking, very busy and he's good in aerial ball. He is a good target player and set ball for oncoming supporting players." Although Marcio did not score last night, the former Terengganu player also says, " Marcio is a complete and experienced player with good intelligent touches."   

On last night's match, he says that it was not easy playing against his former team, since PKNS has "two best twin strikers in the country". He adds,"We are not there yet. The win just gives us a little breathing space." Still, Abdul Rahman also notes that in the last fifteen minutes, Terengganu lost "possession and tactical responsibility to young PKNS players."

PKNS head coach Wan Jamak Wan Hassan congratulates Turtles on their victory.

"Overall I am pleased as PKNS worked hard to at least get a point. There is a blessing in defeat. We must realise that in football, a goal lead is not enough. We had a lot of opportunities but these were not fully exploited." He adds that the league is a long journey.

Wan Jamak: blessing in defeat