No time to rest: Kuching City’s Tchetche Kipre (right) at a training session ahead of their match against JDT. — Kuching City
PETALING JAYA: It is never easy taking the ball away from a football side that is so solid in every way.
But that’s exactly what Kuching City are planning to do when they take on 10-time Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri today.
It will be a struggle for sure but the Borneo side are ready to make it hard for their opponents.
Veteran striker Tchetche Kipre said it was only normal for any side who face JDT to defend because of their technical superiority. “Usually, you will have a plan that you want to stick to but teams like JDT can alter your game strategy. Against them, we have to defend most of the times,” said Kiprethe.
The 36-year-old Ivorian, who forms a striker partnership with Ghanaian Jordan Mintah, however hopes to ruffle the feathers.
“JDT are a side with quality players, so they force you to defend. Mentally, we want to play a good game and have better possession of the ball.
“We have to adapt and get ready. We know JDT are a difficult side to beat, especially at home, but in football, nothing is impossible. We will do our best.”
Kuching have defied the odds this season as they are currently fourth in the league with 14 points from 10 matches.
But their fine run hit a bump when they lost 0-4 to Selangor at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Sept 13, but they are hoping to bounce back with a better showing.
“We want to maintain this spot that we are in. It is not going to be easy but we also have to remind ourselves why we are in that position,” said Kipre.
“We are a good team. Defeats are part of football, we just got to keep working and being the best version of ourselves.”
Meanwhile, JDT coach Hector Bidoglio wants his side to etch a win to continue being on top and also bring momentum in their upcoming AFC Champions League Elite game against Shanghai Shenhua at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Oct 1.
“The game against Kuching is important. I told my boys they have to win it to remain in a confident form before they take on Shanghai. We are at a stage where we have to show consistency and strength,” said the Venezuelan.
“It will be a difficult match against Kuching and I have told my boys that I will pick the best, so there could be a rotation of the eleven. We want to continue our good home form.”
The Southern Tigers are currently on top of the table with 28 points from 10 games.
