PETALING JAYA: Only one player has started in all games for Perak this season – youngster A. Shivan Pillay. That’s because he can grasp what coach Datuk Lim Teong Kim wants.
The 22-year-old Shivan can play as both centreback or defensive midfielder and his versatility, workrate and technique have been praised by many who feel he will get better as the league progresses.
For now, though, Perak are suffering from the team’s erratic form in the Super League.
In the 10 matches they have played, the Seladang won two, drew three and lost five games.
They lie 11th with nine points and will resume their league season on May 20, against Selangor at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.
Shivan, himself a former Selangor and Petaling Jaya City player, knows the meeting against his former club will be a big test.
“But we know we will give it our all and hope it will lead to a result,” he said.
Despite the team’s inconsistency, Shivan believes they are improving and moving in the right direction in terms of performance.
“When I joined the club, expectations were not high because we were looking to rebuild, but fans have strong expectations, they want instant success,” he said.
“We are improving game by game. Coach LTK (Teong Kim) demands a lot from his players, but he means well.
“I have been doing well under his coaching, and I understand what he wants from every game. That is why I was able to start every game.”
In their last game against Kelantan, Perak won 3-2 at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru on April 28, which saw Teong Kim giving the boys a week off.
That does not mean a holiday, as he provided a training programme for all the boys to follow.
“It was supposed to be only a few days, but he changed his mind by giving us a week off. But we were given a programme to follow, so we don’t lose our fitness or touch when we return to training.
“The momentum from the Kelantan game is still there, so we believe we can win matches,” he said.
