PETALING JAYA: Terengganu are determined to prevent their Malaysia Cup disappointment sap their hunger, with the Turtles quickly turning their attention back to the Super League challenge.
The Turtles had their luck turned upside down after they were knocked out of the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals by Kuala Lumpur on Sunday – which meant their chase for the elusive title last won at 2001 continued.
Interim coach Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan wants his players to snap out of their demoralising 2-3 aggregate loss and failure to keep alive their hope of ending the 25-year wait for the Cup.
And Hazman knows that Terengganu need to keep their wits about them as they head out on the road to face Melaka tomorrow at the Hang Jebat Stadium, before meeting Kuala Lumpur again next Friday on home turf.
“I told my players to move forward because the Malaysia Cup is over, and we have to focus back on the league,” said Hazman.
“It was a tough defeat, but I hope it was a lesson for all of us.”
There were silver linings in Terengganu’s defeat, as Hazman said he saw encouraging potential in several youngsters, even if they still lack experience on the pitch.
Terengganu have been fielding a number of national Under-23 players, including Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili, Safwan Mazlan and Haqimi Azim Rosli, and they have held their own.
The 22-year-old Ubaidullah has scored once this season for the Turtles in their 1-1 draw against Negri Sembilan in November during a Super League game, while Safwan, 23, has contributed two assists.
Haqimi, also 23, is still searching for more minutes after joining the club on loan from Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) early last month.
“We can see that some of our players are still young, but that does not mean they are not ready to be fielded.
“It’s just that sometimes their experience is lacking, but when needed, they can put opponents under pressure.
“Against Kuala Lumpur, it was an away game and the players handled it well against a team with more experienced players,” he said.
Terengganu are currently fifth in the Super League with 25 points, five points behind fourth-place Kuala Lumpur.
