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Sekalipun terpilih sebagai pemain terbaik perlawanan selepas beraksi cemerlang dengan skuad negara dalam perlawanan menentang Myanmar, penyerang negara, Baddrol Bakhtiar tetap tidak berpuas hati dengan mutu persembahannya.

Baddrol menyedari dia terlepas dua peluang terbaik untuk meletakkan Malaysia di kedudukan lebih baik dalam usahanya memikat jurulatih negara, K. Rajagobal selepas beberapa pemain utama khususnya di bahagian serangan tidak dapat beraksi atas beberapa alasan.

“Pasukan sekarang memang berbeza daripada yang lepas-lepas. Pasukan negara kini bermain dengan corak pantas dan persaingan sememangnya sengit bagi merebut tempat dalam kesebelasan utama.

“Saya akan teruskan latihan dan berusaha lebih lagi agar diberi kepercayaan oleh jurulatih,” kata Baddrol yang setakat ini telah mengumpul sembilan gol dalam Liga Super bersama pasukan Kedah.

Dalam perlawanan ujian itu, Baddrol diberi peranan di bahagian tengah di belakang Abdul Hadi Yahaya sebelum diletakkan sebagai penggempur utama selepas Abdul Hadi dikeluarkan.

Posisi yang tepat dan corak lariannya sentiasa menghantui pertahanan lawan sehingga menjadi bualan penyokong

Pulun Kedah Pulun

YAB Dato’ Seri Ustaz Azizan Abdul Razak meyampaikan ucapan takziah kepada Jurulatih Pasukan Kedah, Wan Jamak Wan Hassan dan keluarga beliau.

Ucapan takziah tersebut disampaikan setelah mendapat berita kematian bapa mertua jurulatih Kedah itu semalam.

Jawatankuasa eksekutif juga merakamkan ucapan takziah kepada surulatih Wan Jamak.

Jawatankuasa Media KFA yang dipengerusikan oleh Sdr Yusri turut merakamkan ucapan takziah dan berharap Wan Jamak bersabar dan berdoa semoga roh Allahyarham di himpunkan bersama-sama dengan orang-orang bertaqwa.

WAN JAMAK (tengah) menerima surat pelantikan daripada Dr. Hamdan di Alor Setar semalam.

SIFU baru skuad Hijau Kuning, Wan Jamak Wan Hassan menetapkan sasaran peribadi untuk membantu Kedah muncul juara Liga Super dan Piala Malaysia musim ini.

Bagaimanapun, bekas jurulatih Negeri Sembilan itu mengakui berdepan tugas berat untuk memastikan skuad Hijau Kuning berada di landasan yang tepat selepas mengambil alih jawatan tersebut daripada Ahmad Yusoff pada pertengahan musim ini.

Wan Jamak memberitahu, beliau sudah bersedia memikul tanggungjawab itu dengan mendapat bantuan semua pihak di sebalik harapan tinggi yang disandarkan peminat dan majikan barunya, Persatuan Bola Sepak Kedah (KFA).

Jelasnya, menerusi dua sasaran besar itu menjadikan pasukan akan lebih fokus bagi mencapai keputusan yang terbaik apabila musim ini berakhir.

“Sekiranya kita sasar yang terbaik, kita mungkin dapat mencapai keputusan yang baik. Saya akan bekerjasama dengan semua pihak khususnya penolong jurulatih dan para pemain untuk cuba mempertingkatkan lagi prestasi pasukan Kedah,” katanya.

Beliau ditemui pemberita pada majlis memperkenalkan beliau dan menandatangani kontrak bersama skuad Sang Kenari di Stadium Darul Aman, Alor Setar semalam.

Turut hadir Setiausaha Kehormat KFA, Datuk Dr. Hamdan Mohamed Khalib; pengurus pasukan, Datuk Khazali Din, ahli jawatankuasa eksekutif KFA; penolong-penolong jurulatih dan para pemain pasukan bola sepak Kedah.

Ujar Wan Jamak, pada mulanya beliau bercadang untuk berehat sehingga penghujung musim ini, namun mengakui tidak boleh ‘duduk diam’ kerana bola sepak sudah menjadi darah dagingnya.

Setelah mendapat tawaran daripada KFA, katanya, beliau memilih untuk menerima jawatan berkenaan kerana melihat Hijau Kuning mempunyai ramai pemain muda yang berpontensi dan berbakat.

“Saya juga melihat Kedah dibarisi ramai pemain anak negeri ini sekali gus menjadikan sikap kekitaan atau kenegerian begitu tinggi.

“Ini menjanjikan komitmen daripada para pemain untuk memberikan yang terbaik bagi melonjakkan nama Kedah,” katanya yang akan mengendalikan sepenuhnya skuad Sang Kenari mulai Khamis ini.

Dalam pada itu, Hamdan berkata, selepas menyaring beberapa nama, KFA melihat Wan Jamak sebagai calon terbaik mengisi jawatan jurulatih berikutan prestasinya yang cemerlang ketika membimbing Negeri Sembilan.

Katanya, di sebalik peletakan jawatan Wan Jamak sebagai jurulatih skuad Hoben Jang Hoben, KFA menyedari dia memiliki reputasi memberangsangkan apabila membantu pasukan itu menjuarai Piala Malaysia dan Piala FA di bawah kendaliannya.

“KFA menetapkan sasaran Kedah berada pada kedudukan ketiga terbaik Liga Super dan mara sekurang-kurangnya ke separuh akhir Piala Malaysia dengan pelantikan Wan Jamak,” katanya.

KOTA BARU: Former international Akmal Rizal Rakhli’s motivation this season is the Malaysia Cup. The Jitra-born lad saw action in the final of the Malaysia Cup twice – with his home State Kedah (2004) and with Selangor (2008).

On both occasions, his team ended up being bridesmaids. Now with Kelantan, Akmal hopes to be third time lucky. Akmal sat out yesterday’s morning training session because of a slight fever. The team left for Alor Star later in the afternoon and Akmal is determined to be on the pitch when the first leg of the semifinal clash gets underway.

“A footballer’s career is incomplete if he has not won the Malaysia Cup. And this is the best opportunity for me to achieve my goal as Kelantan look solid to win the title,” said Akmal.

“I’m not saying Kedah are pushovers. They are a young team and look balanced.

“We have experienced players and this would be the determining factor.”

Akmal, who enjoyed stints with French clubs RC Strasbourg (1999) and FCSR Haguenau (2000), agreed the players should not get carried away with their achievements thus far.

Kelantan stunned Super League champions and hot favourites Selangor in the quarterfinals by securing a 3-0 aggregate. Kelantan coach B. Satianathan has warned the players not to take things lightly and that their Malaysia Cup campaign was far from over.

“Coach Satianathan is right. We can’t take anything for granted.

“We may seem to have the upper hand but anything can happen. Even if we win the away match, we would still have to tread cautiously.”

When asked how he felt having to play his home State, Akmal added: “I now play for Kelantan. Period. I love my State but this is football and sentiments do not disturb me.

“Norshahrul (Idlan Talaha) is still serving suspension but I guess it’s not a big problem for strikers. I play well alongside Hairuddin (Omar) and we will strive to be a lethal combination against Kedah.”

ALOR SETAR: Kedah marched into the Malaysia Cup semi-finals with a thumping 3-0 win over Terengganu at the Darulaman Stadium last night.

Kedah, who advanced with a 5-2 aggregate quarter-final win, will take on Kelantan in the last four. Kelantan had defeated Selangor 3-0 on aggregate on Friday.

The Canaries, frustrated by last year’s semi-finalists in the first half, turned on the style after the break to score through Badrol Bakhtiar (61st minute), Mohd Sabre Mat Abu (68th) and Mohd Khyril Muhymeen (83rd).

Kedah opened accounts when Mohd Faisal Bakar slipped a through pass to Mohd Khyril, who unleashed a stinger which came off goalkeeper Mohd Sharbinee Allawee. The lurking Badrol pounced on the loose ball to slot home.

Sharbinee was later stretchered out after being injured when he tried to stop Mohd Khyril’s attempt. He was replaced by Mohd Sharmirza Yusoff.

Seven minutes later the Canaries doubled their lead when Mohd Sabre’s glancing header off a Badrol cross caught Mohd Sharmirza wrong footed.

Mohd Khyril then delivered the final blow off a free kick in the 83rd minute when he coolly chipped the ball past Mohd Sharmiza.

Kedah, however, ended the match with 10 men when Khairul Helmi was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 89th minute. He will now miss the first leg of the semi-final Wednesday.

In Kangar, there was no stopping defending champions Negri Sembilan as they stormed to a convincing 3-1 win over Perlis in the return-leg match at Stadium Utama.

Abdul Halim Zainal was the toast for the Deer as he scored a brace to guide them to a 4-1 aggregate win.

Halim scored in the 24th and 41st minutes before Mohd Shukor Adan completed the job with the third goal in the 75th minute.

Perlis scored a consolation goal in the dying minutes through Azrul Azman.

Play was, however, stopped for a few minutes in the first half when a fan threw a brick onto the pitch. Fortunately, no one was hit and play resumed after security was tightened.

Negri will play Johor FC in the semi-finals.

Johor FC lost 2-1 to Pahang at the Darulmakmur Stadium in Kuantan but qualified on the away goal rule after both teams drew 2-2 on aggregate.

Former international Eddie Helmi Abdul Manan put the club side ahead in the 50th minute with a fine solo effort but the Elephants bounced back with goals from Shahrizak Salleh (65th) and Faizol Hussain (68th).

Pahang had earlier been reduced to 10 men when Mohd Shahrul Norsham was sent off in the 60th minute.

Negeri Sembilan and Kedah both have equal chances since both have capable players in their stables and equally poised said National coach K. Rajagobal.

Rajagobal, a former Selangor stalwart said any team that qualified for the final would have their own strength and capable of winning the cup.

“Negeri Sembilan has some experienced players in Rizal Zambry Yahya, Idris Karim, Ching Hong Aik, Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak and Mohamad Zaquan Adha Abdul Razak.

“On the other hand, Kedah have players like Baddrol Bakhtiar, Mohd Khyril Muhyameen Zambri, Mohd Azmi Muslim and Mohd Hemli Eliza Elias,” Rajagobal told Bernama when asked to pick his choice for the FA Cup final between Negeri Sembilan and Kedah at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.

He added that even some of the young players in both teams were no pushovers since some of them had represented the national team.

“What is important is for a team to be well organised and play with determination and commitment to win,” he said.

Rajagobal who let the National team to the SEA Games gold medal in Laos after a 20-year hiatus said the fact that both teams have experienced coaches was another factor that leaves little room for separation between the two.

“Negeri Sembilan coach Wan Jamak Wan Hassan, a former international, is an experienced coach since he was also the former National coach while Ahmad Yusof who is also an ex-international, is also vastly experienced,” he said.

Negeri Sembilan, 2003 FA Cup winner, advanced to the final after edging defending champion Selangor on away goals rule when both teams were tied 2-2 on aggregate after two legs (Negeri won 2-1 in Shah Alam).

Kedah, the treble winner in 2007/2008 season, showed their prowess by beating Terengganu 4-1 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak announced that the state would reward the players if they won the FA Cup, but did not reveal what the incentives were.

Azizan however, announced that the state would reward the victorious team that won the Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup during the 2007/2008 season, with bungalow lots at Bandar Sejahtera, Pokok Sena.

He added that the incentive was the state government’s reward for the players who were under coach Azraai Khor Abdullah and officials in the team.

KUALA TERENGGANU: An unexpected victory. But Kedah are not about to just ride on a 2-0 lead with an away goal advantage they now command over Terengganu in the FA Cup semi-final tie.

Kedah coach Ahmad Yusof made that clear that his side would still work very hard for a positive result in the second-leg match at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on Saturday.

The Canaries had trooped out of the first-leg match at the Sultan Ismail Stadium in Kuala Terengganu on Tuesday with more than they had hoped for.

“A draw from the away match would have been a great result. But the team surprised me with their performance and their determination to win the match,” said Ahmad.

“We not only won but have the bonus of two precious away goals in the bag to help our cause to reach the final.”

National Under-23 striker Faizal Abu Bakar put Kedah in front in the 28th minute and their top goal poacher, Azlan Ismail, netted the second in the 59th minute to take his tally to eight goals thus far in all competitions.

Ahmad was quick to warn his boys against taking the Turtles for granted in the return match.

“Terengganu certainly have the ability to turn things around. They were very creative and dangerous in the first-leg match but poor finishing let them down,” he said.

“We have to keep their attack, especially their striker, Manaf (Mamat), under close check in the return match.”

But Kedah will not be at full strength for the second-leg match. National defender Mohd Sabre Abu will be out on a one-match suspension for having received two yellow cards.

And Shahrulnizam Mustapha is a doubtful starter after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury. Azlan’s availability is also hanging in the balance as he has to face the FA of Malaysia’s disciplinary board tomorrow for a red card offence in the quarter-final first-leg match against Armed Forces on March 9.

“We hope that Sharulnizam’s injury is not too serious and we have to keep our fingers crossed that the disciplinary board will not hand Azlan more punishment than the two-match automatic suspension,” said Ahmad.

Selangor FA

SELANGOR FA mengukuhkan kedudukan selaku pendahulu Liga Super selepas mencatat kemenangan 4-0 ke atas Kedah FA di Stadium Shah Alam malam tadi.

Beraksi di hadapan kira-kira 10,000 penyokong setia, Selangor ternyata memanfaatkan kelebihan bermain di gelanggang sendiri apabila berjaya menguasai keseluruhan perlawanan.

Jika tidak kerana ketangkasan penjaga gol Kedah FA, Mohd. Helmi Eliza Elias, tuan rumah terlebih dahulu sudah boleh berada di depan menerusi percubaan kapten, Mohd. Amri Yahya dan juga Mohd. Hardi Jaafar.

Serangan bertali arus Selangor akhirnya membuahkan hasil apabila Mohd. Safee Sali berjaya membuka tirai jaringan dengan satu sepakan voli menarik dari luar kotak penalti pada minit ke-26.

Khairul Helmi Johari mengekang asakan penyerang Selangor, Safee Sali

Tiga minit kemudian, Mohd. Amirul Hadi Zainal terus meletakkan Selangor selesa di hadapan dengan jaringannya setelah menerima lorongan cantik daripada Hardi.

Sebaik babak kedua bersambung, Kedah memperkemaskan jentera serangan mereka apabila dilihat melancarkan serangan bertali arus ke arah kubu pertahanan Selangor bagi merapatkan jurang gol.

Namun kekentalan barisan pertahanan Selangor yang diketuai oleh Khairul Anuar Baharom berjaya mengekang setiap asakan pasukan pelawat.

Amri terus menambah derita Kedah apabila meledak gol ketiga pada minit ke-60 setelah melakukan lambungan cantik untuk menewaskan Helmi Eliza.

Amirul Hadi sekali lagi meletakkan namanya selaku penjaring apabila menyumbat gol keempat Selangor minit ke-77.

Kemenangan tersebut membolehkan Selangor kekal di tangga teratas liga dengan mengumpul 22 mata.

Skuad Gergasi Merah itu dijadualkan berdepan dengan Kelantan di Stadium Sultan Muhammed IV, Kota Bharu, Jumaat ini.