Aidil in wonderland

Eyes on the ball: Perak

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven months ago, Kedah coach Aidil Sharin took over a team that lost half of their first-team players.

Coming from Singapore, the former Home United coach felt that he needed time to rebuild the team and only aimed for silverwares the next year.

But, the 42-year-old former international did not expect the Red Eagles to lift their fifth FA Cup trophy after they beat defending Malaysia Cup champions Perak 1-0 after extra-time at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.

“Honestly, I never expected this because anywhere in the world, when you take over a team, you need time to get things right,” said Aidil.

“It’s not easy to get the Cup in the first year itself, especially when you are in a new environment.

“You must also take note that only half of the team from last season’s squad were retained.”

Kedah brought in lots of new players and because of that, a lot of things needed to be done.

“As a coach, I always believe that a team of 11 players would bring the club forward. I cannot rely on one individual to make things happen.”

Aidil was being modest when he said that the victory was due to the players’ never-say-die attitude.

Credit should be given to Aidil, as his substitutions in the second-half paid off handsomely.

Wingers Azamuddin Akil and Fayadh Zulkifli Amin were a constant threat with their penetrating runs while Fadzrul Danel Nizam scored the winning goal with his first touch of the ball.

“My players gave their all tonight. Even without Renan (Alves), who was suspended, we still won the trophy because the players played as a family, as a team.

“Before the match, I felt confident because the boys were united. They prayed and ate together and during training, you can sense that something good was going to happen.”

Meanwhile, Perak coach Mehmet Durakovic’s plan to hold Kedah in extra-time and take the game to penalties backfired.

As there were many tired legs, the introduction of Firdaus Saiyadi and Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi in the second-half of extra-time proved too late for the Seladang.

“Tough luck. It was a very good game. Both teams played attacking football but pity that it rained and the pitch was soggy and heavy,” said the Australian.

“Having said that, I’m very proud of my players because they worked hard for 120 minutes. Amirul Azhan Aznan’s sending off was a letdown. Up till then, we created many chances and if we had scored one or two out of those chances, we could have won easily to be quite honest.

“Their goalkeeper (Ifwat Akmal) was in his element. If it wasn’t for him, we could have been one or two-nil up.”

Durakovic also lamented about the poor pitch.

“It wasn’t easy to play good football. When you see Kedah just knocking long balls all the time, it’s because of the pitch.

“If it wasn’t so soggy, we would have seen a much better ball-playing game from both teams.

“It is what it is, we can’t change that. Kedah won and that’s history now.”