Terengganu's Abd Manaf Mamat (right) is blocked by JDT's Hariss Harun during their Malaysia Cup quater-final first-leg match at Sultan Ismail Nasirudddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu on Oct 3. Filepic
PETALING JAYA: Terengganu coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim had confessed that he had no clue how to stop Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
But Terengganu skipper Ismail Faruqi is not buying it.
In fact, Ismail is confident that his coach will come out with a plan to upset JDT in their Malaysia Cup quarter-final second-leg clash at the Larkin Stadium on Thursday.
The Southern Tigers are unbeaten at home this season and will be favourites to advance to the semi-finals after holding Terengganu to a goalless draw in the first leg in Kuala Terengganu on Oct 3.
The wily Abdul Rahman came close to leading Terengganu to a win over JDT at Larkin in a Super League match in June – but his players wasted a two-goal lead to lose 4-3.
Earlier in March, the 68-year-old coach masterminded his team to a 1-0 win over the star-studded JDT in Kuala Terengganu. That was one of the four defeats JDT have suffered in the Super League this season.
That’s why Ismail believes that they must stick to the coach’s game plan on Thursday.
“I still remember losing 4-3 to JDT although we had a good start in that match. We made some silly mistakes and were punished,” said Ismail, who turns 28 on Wednesday .
“I believe everyone has learned his lesson from that match and will be wary of JDT’s threat. I’m confident if we can focus for the full 90 minutes, we can get a result there.
“After all, we have the most experienced coach in the M-League with us. I’m pretty sure he will come with the right game plan.”
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