Sweating it out: Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Heberty Fernandes going through the drill during a training session. — JDT FC
PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim have been the juggernaut of Malaysian football, just slapping away the opposition as they marched with impunity into the FA Cup final.
In the round of 16, they thrashed Kelantan 4-0, in the two-legged quarter-final, they scored a whopping 13 goals past Malaysian Universities without conceding and in the semi-final, they humbled Kedah 5-1 on aggregate for a whopping 22 goals in five matches.
However, it’s not been the same story in the Super League.
Before the FA Cup semi-final second leg game against Kedah, the Southern Tigers were held 1-1 by unheralded Police at the Selayang Stadium on July 31.
The good news is that they face Kedah again in the Super League at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri tomorrow and the Johor side’s Brazilian striker Heberty Fernandes believes the 3-0 FA Cup win in the second-leg would inspire them to get back to winning ways.
The 35-year-old who is capable of playing as a striker, second striker, winger and playmaker, realises that every team in the league will do their best against them, and would want to be the first to beat them.
“We are a side that has a different mentality. We never want to be happy with what we do. We work hard, push hard and train hard to ensure that we remain at the top in Malaysia,” said Fernandes.
“That is why we are always in finals and being champions in a lot of tournaments in Malaysia. We are facing Kedah again, so we expect a good and tough game. We want to bring the FA Cup momentum to the league.”
Fernandes is likely to be the main man again for JDT as he has scored four goals in six Super League matches for the club. In the FA Cup, he scored two goals in four games.
As for the FA Cup final, Fernandes said he was delighted JDT were there again.
“Last year, I joined the team before the FA Cup final against Kuala Lumpur. I was not registered yet and was in the stands.
“This time, I will be on the field. Last year, the team played at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium but this season, it will be in Kuala Lumpur (at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil). I am excited to be part of this spectacle.”
