KUALA LUMPUR: Despite being plagued by unpaid wages, Kuala Lumpur players fought tooth and nail to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over Kedah in their Super League clash at Stadium Darul Aman on Friday.
Head coach Miroslav Kuljanac admitted he had no idea where his players found the mental strength, describing their performance as nothing short of extraordinary.
Not only did they have to contend with off-field issues, they also staged a remarkable comeback on enemy turf after trailing 0-2, following goals from Milos Gordic in the 25th minute and Fadzrul Daniel in the 65th.
Paulo Josue pulled one back before half-time, then struck again in the 62nd minute to level the score before Sean Giannelli netted the winner four minutes from time.
“I expected it to be a tough match. Many have told me that Kedah are a troubled team, but we were also facing our own challenges,” said Kuljanac after the match.
“Right now, after playing 21 matches and having six points deducted, we still have 34 points in this situation. I believe this is a wonderful team.
“I don’t know how the players see this team, but they have shown that they are talented, high quality players who truly love this club.
“I hope they can finish the remaining three matches with the same spirit. We’ll see what happens next.”
For Kedah’s interim head coach Victor Andrag, his team faced similar challenges to KL, with salary arrears forcing him to field eight Under-23 players in the match.
He had no choice but to rely on his young and inexperienced squad, as several senior players opted to boycott the game, believed to be in protest over the unpaid wages.
“This is a difficult time for us, so what reason do I have to question the senior players? I have no reason to be angry or to question those who chose not to play.
“For the players who have remained committed, I have the utmost appreciation for them.
“I do not deny the contributions of the senior players as I truly appreciate them. Despite our situation, some have remained committed, coming to training every day, and I have no words to express how much I value their sacrifices,” said Victor.
