PETALING JAYA: More is expected of Egyptian striker Ahmed Shamsaldin after he stood out in Melaka’s 1-3 defeat to the Johor Darul Ta’zim in the Malaysia Cup quarter-final second leg three days ago.
Ahmed contributed the solo goal for the club at home but it was the way he executed it that won the heart of coach E. Elavarasan.
Ahmed hit the net with a spectacular goal, a bicycle kick.
“As a striker, executing a bicycle kick like that – especially considering his height (1.93m) — is very difficult. The way he scored was absolutely top-class,” said Elavarasan
Melaka currently sit 12th in the Super League standings with 10 points and eight matches remaining.
Today, Ahmed and Co are expected to improve their position in the league when they take on Selangor at the Hang Jebat Stadium today.
And wants his boys to be consistent after showing clear signs of progress in their overall play despite losing to JDT
“The word ‘satisfied’ is tricky,” said Elavarasan.
“As professional players, it is not about being satisfied or not — they must perform every single time.
“Why do we perform well today but fail to deliver in the next match? These are the things we must understand. In every game, the players have to fight and work hard. Only then will there be a difference.”
Asked about the team’s outlook for the remainder of the season, Elavarasan said: “Targets are very important, especially for coaches. They push us to push the players to achieve what the management expects. That is standard in any organisation.”
“What matters is how we go about achieving those targets. Sometimes you reach them, sometimes you don’t. But at the very least, you must give your absolute best.
“Right now, I feel the Melaka players are truly trying their best in every game.”
