Can T-Team upset Kelantan in the other East Coast derby?

Kota Bharu: On the one hand, Kelantan say they don't want to look down on club side T-Team in tonight's Super League match here. On the other hand, underdog T-Team say as far as possible, they don't want to go back to Kuala Terengganu empty-handed.

TRW head coach Steve Darby shares with Bola Pantai Timur, " Every team is difficult. JDT have most of the best players. I thus thought they should have been higher than where they are now. Otherwise the other teams are very close. A win or a loss shall pull a team up or push them down."  

Steve Darby: Every team is difficult

T-Team is significantly weakened by the absence of injured playmaker Nelson San Martin and striker Patrich Wanggai. Even local players like defender Md Hassan Basri has to rest for six months following an ACL.

TRW however is different. Three of their players have earned a Harimau Malaya call-up. And they are hoping to build on their momentum following the recent 3-2 win at home against PKNS in the FA Cup 1st leg quarter final and the return to the more familiar 4-4-2 formation.

Therefore for Kelantan to beat T-Team tonight is expected. But the real question should be can T-Team beat Kelantan?  

T-Team head coach Mohd Azraai Khor Abdullah tells Bola Pantai Timur, " Although the mission is difficult, if possible we don't want to go back empty-handed. The absence of Nelson and Wanggai is sorely felt. Still, we believe we can do our best with the available players."

Azraai: "Do our best with available players"

Kelantan manager, Azman Ibrahim notes, " Although T-Team is currently second from the bottom of the league standing, it doesn't mean we will win easily tonight. To me all the Super League teams this season are quite balanced and cannot be taken lightly. If TRW is not careful, we may not be able to get three points."

Obviously to create an upset, T-Team cannot depend on others but themselves.

The draw against ATM shows that they are not finished yet as a team - not withstanding the infamous Larkin incident which had happened earlier. In fact even earlier on when T-Team won against JDT at home, Azraai already said that would be the beginning of better things for T-Team.

All of a sudden, came the Larkin incident which had diverted their attention, focus and energy to its aftermath. Thus they should continue with the kind faith in themselves and the never say die attitude that they have so that in Kota Bharu tonight they can really put up a mature and solid all-round performance.     



Quips a football observer, " In the present circumstances an upset is possible because TRW is not yet at their best stage." He adds that it is up to T-Team how they actually want to capitalize on this "window" of opportunity, and convert it into reality.

Allah knows best.