Punished: Terengganu coach Tomislav Steinbruckner said Jordan Mintah (right) will now play for Terengganu II. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Terengganu coach Tomislav Steinbruckner has dropped Ghanaian striker Jordan Mintah ahead their Super League game against Kedah at the Sultan Mizan Stadium in Gong Badak tonight for ‘’disciplianary reasons’’.
It is learnt that the Croatian coach and Mintah had a serious disagreement after it was alleged that the latter refused to take a penalty in the FA Cup semi-final shootout against Kuala Lumpur on June 25 which the Turtles lost 2-4.
Steinbruckner said Mintah would now play for the Terengganu II team.
“I can’t work with a player who doesn’t believe in me. For the game against Kedah, we also won’t have Ivan (Mamut) and Argzim (Redzovic), but I trust the others will be ready for the task,” he said.
“For the players who are going to start, I expect them to do a great job. And I want the fans to continue backing us.’’
In their first encounter in the Super League, Terengganu lost to Kedah 0-1 at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on March 1.
The return fixture will see Kedah coach Nafuzi Zain returning to the venue of his former team for the first time since he left Terengganu last season for the Canaries.
Some of the current Terengganu players still have a close relationship with Nafuzi but Steinbruckner said his players will be strictly professionals in tonight’s clash.
“All my boys are professionals and will be out to win the game. Kedah are in a better position but my boys are not short on confidence as they intend to get a result.”
Terengganu are eighth in the league with 20 points while Kedah are fourth with 28.
