PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) have made it clear that six players on loan to Kuching City will not feature against their parent club in the Charity Shield for a specific reason.
Questions were raised over whether the loanees would be able to face JDT in the match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Friday (Aug 21), which also doubles as the Super League season opener.
Coach Xisco Munoz gave a firm no.
The six players in question are twin brothers – defender Declan Lambert and midfielder Ryan Lambert – along with playmaker Nazmi Faiz Mansor, winger Safawi Rasid, striker Gabriel Nistelrooy, and Bosnian attacker Ajdin Mujagic.
"They are JDT players, right? They have a contract with us," said Munoz.
"There is a reason why they can’t play against us. If they make a mistake for their current team, a lot of speculation would follow. That’s why we are protecting the safety and integrity of the players.
"It is a long season and they have other games to play for Kuching, but against us, there is a reason why they are not allowed to play."
The Spaniard also touched on JDT’s remarkable unbeaten run in the league, which dates back to 2021 and is closing in on a world record. They have matched 108 games record set by Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas.
"Today’s game is important, and we need big support. I hope it will be a special day for our club. A record like this is difficult to achieve in modern football. We want to win this trophy and become part of football history."
Munoz was wary of the threat posed by the opposition.
"It will be a tough game. They are our most difficult rivals right now. We have to stay focused, and our players must understand that only their maximum effort is required.
Meanwhile, Kuching City captain James Okwuosa said they want to put up a strong performance for their fans.
"We want to win our first game of the season as well. We want to create an upset and gain three points."
