PETALING JAYA: Striker Tchetche Kipre put sentiment aside to haunt his former side Terengganu once again.
The veteran Kipre struck twice to hand Penang a 2-0 Super League victory over the Turtles at the Sultan Mizan Stadium in Gong Badak on Saturday.
The Ivorian, who represented Terengganu from 2017-2019 and again in 2022, found the net in the 68th and 89th minutes to secure Penang’s first three points of 2026.
The 38-year-old Kipre stayed alert throughout to punish errors by Terengganu goalkeeper Syed Nasrulhaq Syed Bidin, underlining his enduring threat in the penalty area.
Out of respect for the Terengganu supporters, Kipre chose not to celebrate his goals, though he admitted the moment carried special meaning.
“Scoring against my former team feels good because it reminded me of the great moments I had with Terengganu,” said Kipre, who is now Penang’s leading league scorer with six goals from 10 matches.
“It’s an emotional experience that made me feel better.
“Coming back to this stadium is always nice. The fans did not bully me but cheered for me.
“I give a lot of credit to the Terengganu fans.
“Whenever I come back, they welcome me so well. They are always in my heart, it feels like home.”
The victory came at a crucial time for Penang, who had managed just two wins from their previous 12 matches.
With the new year underway and the second round of the league beginning, pressure was mounting for the Panthers to deliver.
“We had to win. We wanted to start the year with three points to boost our morale,” said Kipre.
“It’s the first match of the second round, and it was very important.”
There was also scrutiny on coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail, amid speculation that his position could have been under threat with another defeat.
Kipre, however, stressed that the squad would remain firmly behind their coach.
“Our coach is great on and off the pitch. He listens to the players and gives good advice,” he said.
“Sometimes the results don’t reflect the hard work you put in, football can be cruel like that.
“The board still trust him and have given him a chance, which is important.
“He does his best and runs good training sessions. We just need to keep winning to reduce the pressure. When the team win, the coach is safe. We are all behind him.”
The win lifts Penang up to 10th place in the Super League standings, moving above Terengganu with 11 points from 13 matches.
