We must be wary of Persija, warns JDT skipper Safiq

JOHOR BARU: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) captain Safiq Rahim has warned his teammates not to take Indonesian side Persija Jakarta lightly in their opening AFC Cup Group H match at the Larkin Stadium tonight.

Safiq is being cautious after his team’s unexpected 1-0 defeat to Kuala Lumpur in the Super League on Sunday.

He said the Southern Tigers must bounce back from their embarrassing loss.

“The recent loss should serve as a lesson to the team for us to do better in our upcoming matches,” said Safiq.

“The game against Kuala Lumpur is history. This is a chance for us to rectify our weaknesses and make sure we become stronger as a unit for upcoming challenges.”

Safiq said Persija were among the best and biggest football teams in Indonesia.

“Persija have not participated in the AFC Cup for 16 years, so we should not take them lightly. It is important for JDT to stay focused,” he added.

Safiq hopes playing at JDT’s fortress, the Larkin Stadium, will motivate the players to get the important three points in their quest for AFC Cup glory.

“We want a win and three points, it’s an important tournament for JDT,” he added.

JDT head coach Ulisses Morais said he would select players based on their mental and physical readiness for the tricky match against Persija.

“We need to see the players’ condition. All want to be part of the first team but we’ll choose the ones that will fit our game plan.

“JDT and Persija know each other’s style of play. Adopting the right strategy is the key,” he added.