PETALING JAYA: Terengganu centreback Ubaidullah Samsul Fazili believes the team’s fighting spirit can spark a turnaround in form and possibly deliver a shock result against Super League leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak today.
The Turtles head into the clash against the Southern Tigers still reeling from their FA Cup quarter-final exit to Kuching City, where a 2-1 away win was not enough to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficit, losing 3-5 on aggregate.
But defender Ubaidullah insists the squad have shown character despite the disappointment.
“After exiting the FA Cup, our morale took a bit of a dent; we were disappointed as a team,” said Ubaidullah.
“But we showed fighting spirit and discipline in that game, and that has given us some hope. We did win (second leg).
“For the game against JDT, it’s not impossible for us to get a result if we stay consistent with our spirit and discipline in matches.”
The 21-year-old, who has been a mainstay in defence under coach Badrul Afzan Razali this season, said unity and composure will be key against the reigning champions.
“Pressure is always there in football,” he said.
“We as a team are doing our best in every game. Despite the pressure, we must stay united - that’s important. We hope good results can secure the coach’s future and help us grow stronger as a team.”
Terengganu’s management have recently acknowledged fans’ frustration over inconsistent results, but reaffirmed their support for the players and coaching staff.
In a recent statement, the club said the upcoming fixtures - including tonight’s showdown with JDT and the next league match against Negri Sembilan - will be key opportunities for the team to improve before ‘any drastic action’ is taken.
Terengganu will need to summon all their resilience to contain a formidable JDT side that continues to dominate domestically, but Ubaidullah insists belief remains strong in the camp.
