PETALING JAYA: Two consecutive victories may seem trivial to some, but for Penang coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail, they are monumental achievements.
After securing a hard-fought 1-0 win against Kuala Lumpur in a Super League clash at the City Stadium on Sunday, the former Malaysian international expressed his gratitude to his team.
“We showcased an ‘honest’ performance,” said Rohaimi.
“It’s heartening to finally see our hard work pay off. Prior to our match against Kuala Lumpur, we also secured a 2-0 victory over Negri Sembilan (April 5).”
This victory was particularly sweet for Rohaimi, as he triumphed over his former boss, Miroslav Kuljanac, under whom he served as assistant coach from March to November last year.
The decisive goal came from their promising young striker Alif Ikmalrizal Anuar, who found the back of the net with a low and precise finish set up by wingback Adib Abd Raop in the 27th minute.
Despite facing a seasoned Kuala Lumpur side, the Panthers delivered a commendable performance, excelling in possession and creating direct scoring opportunities.
“It’s never easy to defeat such an experienced team. We fought valiantly, and despite being in the bottom half of the table, we’ve now secured two consecutive wins.
“I know our fans have been frustrated with previous results, these victories are dedicated to them.”
He emphasised the commitment and spirit of his players, saying: “Winning in our last home game feels great. This time, our solid performance truly earned us the victory unlike in the past.”
Penang will conclude their season against Pahang at Temerloh Stadium on April 19 and Rohaimi is determined to carry this wave of momentum into their next match, aiming for another three points.
“We have five days to prepare, and we’ll give it our all,” he stated.
Rohaimi is pleased to witness the team’s steady improvement.
“From my first day until now, I’ve seen a significant improvement in Penang’s style of play and decision-making,” he noted.
“Football can be unpredictable; sometimes we play well and still lose. But in our last couple of matches, we’ve achieved positive results, which makes me quite satisfied.”
Currently sitting in 10th place in the league with 26 points from 23 matches, Penang are finding their stride just in time for the season’s finale.
