Height factor: Terengganu’s Ivan Mamut and Ismaheel Akinade will be a handful to handle in the new Super League season.
PETALING JAYA: Terengganu will now have twin terrors upfront for the new Super League season.
Croatian striker Ivan Mamut, who stands at 1.92m tall, will now have another lanky partner in attack in the form of Nigerian striker Ismaheel Akinade.
Akinade, who is 1.90m tall, joined the Turtles from east coast club Kelantan United for the new season.
With both of them, Terengganu will not only rely on the creativity of wingers Akhyar Rashid and Safawi Rasid from the flanks but know that crosses and set-pieces should be fully utilised with Mamut and Akinade upfront.
Mamut is certainly looking forward to playing with these players.
“Terengganu are a club that look to improve every year and you can see the signings they have made. I know these three players are good, having shown their quality in the league and as for Akhyar and Safawi, they are important national players,” he said.
“As for people calling me and Ismaheel “The Twin Towers”, I am not aware of that but I look forward to partnering with him but it all depends on the coach’s tactics. It is going to be a long season and we need every single player to be ready for the team.
“Whether it is me alone, Ismaheel alone or the both of us together, for sure we will give our all for this club.
“I believe good things will happen to this club and the aim is to improve on our showing from last season.”
Mamut was the team’s top scorer last season, scoring 23 goals in all competitions and with these players around him, one would think he could score more for the new season.
But the 26-year-old is not going to put any pressure on himself.
“I do not want to set a target. By doing so, I am putting pressure on myself. I know, if I apply the coach’s tactics well and give my all, the goals will come.
“I want to do well for the team. I cannot think of being an individual. Whatever I do on the pitch, it is for the team. Whether I score or assist, it is for everyone. I just want Terengganu to shine.”
Mamut is now going through the pre-season paces with his team and admits that this is the first time he is undergoing a long pre-season.
