TAKEN FROM MY LAST YEAR MALAYSIA CUP FINAL PREVIEW

AS a true blue football fan, before as a player and now as coach. I never gave up on this game. I've sacrifice my studies with hope and dream to be a successfull footballer one day but that never came by. Yes indeed I'm an Arsenal fan and enjoy watching the EPL but it doesn't mean I have no interest in our local football.

So with due respect to our local football scene. Here I would like u to share my view and experience on the Malaysia Cup Final between Kelantan and Negri Sembilan. For Kelantan with no second thoughts they will come down hard with guns blazing all over. I'm convinced they will try hard to rattle their opponent early in the match to neutralise their opponent normal game at the same time hoping for  an early goal. If they did, Negri will surely come out from their shells in search for the equaliser and this will be the turning point for Kelantan to take full advantage to launch quick counter-attacks to kill-off the game. With a second goal. It's game over.  

But if the strategy fails it will back-fire and the team will run out gas. Cause this kind of game situation you needs bundle of energy to sustain the whole 90 minutes period full of concentration without fail. 

On the Negri's side they need to be focus on the game.  Beware do not easily intimidate and disrupt by their opponents and try to avoid keeping the ball too long. Play a one touch or two touch football will do. Do not try playing long balls especially in the box with Halim Napi in goal and keep the defence tight and intact for the first 30 minutes. 

For experience players such as captain Rezal Zambry Yahya, Idris Karim, Shukor Adan, Hairuddin Omar and Zaquan and Aidil they need to keep their heads cool if one of them lose control it will be chaos. Show the fans what you can do and thrill the crowd what you have experience at international level. In big occasion like this the fans will appreciate and remember and looks up to you.

Kelantan's defence wise not so stable. Negri looks more solid. In midfield Negri looks far fore formidable. Strike force both are equal. So it will be Negri Sembilan 2 Kelantan 1. Both teams are looking for cup glory, Kelantan lost to Selangor in the FA Cup final so this will be the driving factor for them and never won the cup. Meanwhile for Negri, this is their third Malaysia Cup final after losing both under previous coaches Mohd Zaki and K.Devan. So it might be third time lucky under Wan Jamak. To former national coach, B.Sathianatan who is also a former Negri Sembilan player surely it must be quite a task,  a lot of thinking to plot Negri downfall and bring the Cup to the east coast. Enjoy the match.