KUALA LUMPUR – Penang FC see Sri Pahang FC as one of their toughest opponents in the Malaysia Super League this season.
The northwest club, fondly referred to as the “Black Panthers” by their supporters, have been actively recruiting foreign players under the guidance of head coach Akmal Rizal in the past two months, aiming to construct a competitive team and target a midtable finish.
Speaking to Scoop, Penang FC general manager Jeffrey Chew said that he admires some of Pahang’s latest player acquisitions. He also admitted that the club will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Pahang have been on a player-signing spree this season under the guidance of Fandi Ahmad, with the additions of Sean Selvaraj, T. Saravanan, Adam Nor Azlin, Serbian centre-back Aleksandar Cvetkovic, Kuvondik Ruziev from Uzbekistan, and Manuel Hidalgo from Argentina.
“Pahang look really strong this season with their recent signings, and they will be our biggest challenge in our quest of finishing seventh.
“Since Fandi came on board, we can see many changes that he has made to the club, evident in how they finished in the league last season.
“But for me, it’s not only Pahang. All teams in the league look really strong this season. Polis Diraja Malaysia FC under P. Maniam’s leadership looks uncontested, and they also have the capability of springing surprises.
“We also have the main title challengers such as Johor Darul Ta’zim, Kedah FC, Terengganu FC, and others. These clubs will also be a threat to us as usual.
“We must ensure that our starting eleven is adept at playing football to survive in this league,” said Jeffrey when contacted.
Jeffrey also said that his team plans to play at least ten pre-season matches to prepare the Black Panthers for the new season.
“We don’t have the luxury to travel abroad like some other teams. Instead, we will be playing with local teams who are ready to play against us.
“We will be taking part in a three-corner friendly tournament with Terengganu FC’s main team, second team, and Kedah FC from April 16 to 21.
“We will also be facing Kedah in another pre-season match and will arrange matches with several Klang Valley teams. In total, we are looking at 10 matches this month,” Jeffrey added.
Penang FC holds the record for winning the league thrice (1982, 1998, and 2001), the FA Cup once (2002), and the Malaysia Cup four times (1953, 1954, 1958, and 1974).
This season’s Super League campaign is expected to begin on May 10, with Penang FC aiming to improve upon their 10th-place finish with 24 points in the previous season. – April 14, 2024