Baptism for coaches
Vital game for the new men in charge at Kelantan and Navibank
KUALA LUMPUR: The AFC Cup Group H match between Kelantan and Vietnam’s Navibank Saigon at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tonight will be the perfect stage for the coaches to prove themselves.
The two newly-appointed coaches — Bojan Hodak of Kelantan and Navibank’s Pham Cong Loc — had contrasting fortunes in their domestic leagues ahead of this clash in the second-tier AFC competition.
Navibank, the 2011 Vietnam Cup winners, are struggling to find their form despite having three foreign players and nine Vietnamese internationals in their side.
The Saigon-based club are 11th in the 14-team league and their poor run saw the previous coach replaced by Cong Loc.
Navisbank, like Kelantan, are making their debut in the AFC Cup and the 44-year-old Cong Loc said a positive result would be the perfect tonic for his team.
“It will be tough. Kelantan are a strong side who are leading the Malaysian league while we are struggling,” said Cong Loc .
“We will try our best to get at least a point here. That will certainly boost the team’s confidence.”
Navibank will be without striker Nguyen Quang Hi, who sustained an injury in the 3-0 defeat to Khanh Hoa Nha Trang in their Vietnam Super League match last Friday.
Hodak, who guided Kelantan to a 2-1 win against Negri Sembilan in their Super League match on Sunday, believes there is less pressure in the AFC Cup.
“Expectations are not high as we are competing in the Cup for the first time. We will just go out and try our best,” said Hodak, who was named interim coach in place of Peter Butler, who quit last month.
“Navibank are having a poor run in their domestic league but that doesn’t mean they are a weak side. They have quality players and I expect them to join us in the second round.”
The former UPB-MYTEAM coach refused to reveal his plans for the match but he is expected to field all four foreign players at his disposal.
Ghanaian Antwi Dennis Agyare, Lebanese mohd ghaddar and nigerian duo Obinna Nwaneri and Nwoha Onyekach will likely start against the Vietnamese as Hodak may choose to rest his regulars.
Only the Nigerian duo play in the Super League as teams are allowed just two foreign players in the domestic competition. Teams in the AFC Cup can field four foreign players.
Hodak revealed that centre-back S. Subramaniam and fullback Mohd Daudsu Jamaluddin are unlikely to play tonight.
“Daudsu had an automobile accident and, although he wasn’t injured, I feel he should take a break. Subra has a groin complaint and is fatigued as he has been playing for the national team as well.”