15/08/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | AUG 15, 2025

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Turtles coach unhappy after draw with Cops

TERENGGANU FC (TFC) head coach Badrul Afzan Razali expressed disappointment over his team’s 2-2 draw with PDRM FC at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium (SSMZA)in Kuala Nerus, Terenggan, on Wednesday night. The visitors opened the scoring through Doumbia Henri, who converted a cross from defender Mohd Safiee Ahmad in the 12th minute, before netting his second in the 53rd minute. TFC reduced the deficit through Muhammad Azam Azmi Murad in the 63rd minute before Yan Bella rescued the Turtles by converting a penalty in the 89th minute to level the match until the final whistle. Badrul Afzan said mistakes in finishing denied the Turtles squad numerous scoring opportunities, despite playing in front of more than 6,000 home fans. In addition, the slow tempo at the start of the first half saw TFC fall behind before

BRIEFS Antlers want clear SOP

Eddy Gapil @ Edwin said small mistakes cost The Cops the chance to take home all three points from the away fixture. However, he expressed satisfaction with his players’ overall performance, particularly Henri Doumbia, whom he described as delivering an outstanding display for the team. “We have to admit it is not easy to come and play against TFC, one of the best teams in the country. Our open style of play can also be a dangerous weapon,” he said. “Overall, the players understood and executed my game plan well. However, I have to admit that after Terengganu increased the pressure in the 75th minute, we lost concentration and began making small mistakes,” he said. – Bernama

managing to equalise late in the second half. “For tonight’s match, our first 10 minutes were too slow. By the time PDRM FC had scored, we were trying to catch up… but our reaction came too late,” he said. “We also had chances to score, especially through Yan Mabella, but failed to convert them. The performance of our imported players was also less than satisfactory tonight,” he said. However, Badrul Afzan also praised the fighting spirit of his players, who pushed hard for the winning goal until the final whistle. “The players must learn from the two goals we conceded. We need to

THE state government needs to reassess the requirements and procedures that must be met before allowing Negeri Sembilan Antlers player Hafizul Hayazi, to join the national sepak takraw squad at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand later this year. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said that as the employer, the state government requires clear explanations and proper standard operating procedures from the Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) to ensure the player’s welfare is well managed, while allowing the athlete to continue competing in the Sepaktakraw League (STL) until it ends. “If we release this player to play with the national squad, will he still be eligible to play with the Negeri Sembilan Antlers team? PSM must decide… we don’t want a situation where once a player receives a contract, he cannot play in STL… this has happened before. We don’t want players to face problems… another thing is that when a player is loaned out, the salary should be paid by the party borrowing him. We want to be fair, with proper SOPs, so that athletes representing the country are not treated unjustly. This must be clarified first,” he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting in Seremban on Wednesday. Three optional sports for Sukma 2026 THREE optional sports, namely muaythai, petanque and silambam, will enliven the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor after their addition was collectively agreed upon in a special meeting of the Sukma Supreme Committee. The National Sports Council (NSC) in a statement yesterday announced that the special meeting was attended by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh; the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development of Sarawak, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and the president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria. “The addition of the three optional sports - muaythai, petanque and silambam – was proposed by the Selangor State Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Exco who is also the chairman of Sukma XXII 2026 Implementing Committee, Mohd Najwan Halimi and was unanimously agreed upon by all members of the SUKMA Supreme Committee. With the addition, Sukma 2026 will feature 30 compulsory sports and seven optional sports and no further proposals or appeals for the addition of sports will be considered,” according to a statement. Heartbreak for M’sians IT was heartbreak for Malaysians at the Maybank Championship 2025 Asean Qualifier on Wednesday as national golfers Ng Jing Xuen and Genevieve Ling fell just one shot short of securing a coveted spot in the prestigious tournament. Both players carded a 3 over 147 over two rounds at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) to finish tied-sixth, narrowly missing the qualification cut to be in the top five positions, which all went to Thailand. Jing Xuen, when met by reporters after her round, said it was hard luck for her as she had started the game strongly. “I tried my best and was just one shot off the qualification, but it’s okay. That’s just golf and that’s life. I’ll accept it,” she said.

address those mistakes and work towards another victory,” he said. Meanwhile, PDRM head coach

KL City FC’s Kpah Sherman (left) in action. – BERNAMAPIC

Rhinos deny City Boys City Boys Ten-man Sabah FC score late to spoil KL City party

S ABAH FC thwarted Kuala Lumpur City FC’s hopes of securing a second consecutive vic tory after their 2025/2026 Super League match at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras on Wednesday night ended in a 1-1 draw. In the encounter, the Rhinos had to endure the second half with 10 players after mid fielder Dean Pelekanos was shown a red card by the referee two minutes before the break for a dan gerous tackle. KL City took advantage of the situation to pressure Sabah and went ahead when defender Dane Ingham, in an attempt to clear a cross from Declan Lambert on the left, ended up putting the ball into his own net in the 65th minute. However, the visitors dashed KL City’s mission to collect three points late in the game when substitute Gabriel Peres headed in Stuart Wilkin’s free-kick during second-half stoppage time. KL City now sit in third place with four points, tied with Terengganu in second, while defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) lead the league with six points. Kuala Lumpur City FC head coach Risto Vidakovic said The City Boys had the upper hand after the break and created several chances to seal all three points but were punished by the visitors in the closing stages. “The result is a draw but it’s the worst feeling you can have when you concede a goal especially MELAKA FC is still looking for their rhythm after the opening match of the 2025-2026 Super League ended in a 1-1 draw against Penang FC at Hang Jebat Stadium, Krubong, Melaka on Wednesday night. Head coach K. Devan admitted that their import players needed time to build compatibility with the squad which was overhauled for this season. According to him, the first half was less aggressive with too much space given to Penang FC to attack, besides several of the opponent’s chances were created due to defensive weaknesses and imperfect counterattacks. “In the first half I saw this team could have played better but we were less aggressive, gave a lot of space to Penang FC and the players’ compatibility was also still lacking besides we faced communication problems with the Brazilian players,” Devan said at a press conference after the match.

as we started a little bit late with pre-season, we are not 100% physically, not at the top. “I think we played a

after controlling almost the entire second half. “We had many opportunities to finish the game but that’s football, sometimes you just have to accept it, look forward and work hard,” he told a post-match press conference.

good game and we have to continue growing, continue playing and I think we have many positive things,” he said. At the same time, he urged patience from fans as the squad continues to gel, pointing out that many players joined the team late and were still adapting to his tactical approach. “The biggest negative thing maybe is the goals (scoring). We have to be patient with these players because everyone is new. “Many of them

The 55-year-old tactician, who took charge of KL City earlier this season, insisted the result did not reflect his team’s performance. He also refused

to blame any individual on the defence lapse that led to Sabah’s equaliser in added time, while noting that fatigue and a shorter pre season had affected his players’ sharpness. “It’s part of football – 90 minutes, the

came late, we started pre-season late. I can find many excuses,” he added. – Bernama

Sabah FC player Gabriel Schmegel (bottom right) celebrates after scoring. – BERNAMAPIC

concentration, everybody’s tired especially

Melaka out of sync, says Devan

“They have only been together for less than a month and this weekend we will meet Penang FC again for the FA Cup and we have to win at home. “The style of play will definitely be different compared to the league match… if we want to continue competing, we need to win and take advantage of the home ground as much as possible,” he said. Meanwhile, Penang FC head coach, Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail, admitted that his team’s style of play is improving, but they have to address several weaknesses. “Many things need to improve even though this is only the second match. We need our first win either in the Super League or the FA Cup to give the team a boost,” he said. The two teams will meet again at Hang Jebat Stadium, this Sunday, for the FA Cup round of 16. – Bernama

“For me, experience was also a factor because all the imported players were playing in the Super League for the first time, compared to experienced opponents, while local players came mostly from A1 League.” The visiting team took the lead in the 28th minute through a header by Dylan Christopher Charles Wenzek Halls before Brazilian import striker Juan Douglas Teles Da Silva equalised in the 69th minute for Melaka. Devan further commented that in the match he saw that Melaka FC still did not have a “leader” on the field, and hoped that the problem could be resolved soon. The 64-year-old manager said that although the performance gap was seen to be improving in the second half, he saw the need to build team confidence and adapt to his tactics with the courage to win.