PETALING JAYA: Imagine having to deal with a postponement for one game, twice. It can be tough on the mind as the wait could impact motivation and confidence.
The venue for the Super League match between Perak and defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), postponed to Nov 10, has been switched from the Manjung Municipal Council Stadium to the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
The Malaysian Football League (MFL) said Perak were asked to name an alternative venue following a safety risk for the high-profile match.
But Perak’s Nigerian midfielder Sunday Afolabi is not too perturbed by it, saying they are prepared for the tie against the league leaders.
“Our preparations were already done from the first game before it was postponed to this moment. So we are always fighting as a team,” said the 25-year-old.
“I think is a very good moment for us to change the schedule cos we didn’t start well after it was postponed we gained confidence as a team.”
Afolabi though knows how the Southern Tigers can be, and would be even more galvanised to play in their stadium.
“JDT are the biggest team in Malaysia, which every team respect a lot.
“But this doesn’t mean we are not going there to get a point, we are going there to get something. This is why we are football players.”
Afolabi has played 12 games in all domestic competitions, being the club’s versatile defensive option.
The former Leiria player can be deployed as a centreback and defensive midfielder and has been a key player for the Seladang since 2022.
He feels he is doing better this season, especially in his midfield partnership with captain Luciano Guaycochea.
“I am tasked to do the dirty job, which allows the other playmakers to do their job and our captain (Guaycochea) is scoring lots of goals, helping us to get points.
“It is the teamwork that is getting us results. We want to continue it.”
Perak are seventh in the league with 17 points, while JDT are top with 37 points from 13 games.
