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Monday November 2, 2009

Kelantan go from no-hopers to contenders in just 40 days

By ERIC SAMUEL

PETALING JAYA: Coach B. Sathianathan has transformed Kelantan to become a very combative outfit in barely 40 days.

The former national coach inherited a team lacking in fitness in mid-September and never in his wildest dreams expected to turn them around so quickly to win a place in the Malaysia Cup final.

“It’s mind boggling ... they were no hopers at one stage and now they are just 90 minutes away from making history,” said Sathianathan, whose side will play against Negri Sembilan for the prestigious trophy at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.

Kelantan have never won the Malaysia Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1921. They were runners-up twice – losing to Singapore (1-3) in 1955 and to Perak (0-2) in 1970.

Defending like warriors: Perlis’ Mohd Shazwan Zainon (centre) finding no way through two Kelantan defenders during their Malaysia Cup semi-final match on Saturday. — Bernama

It was a Herculean task for Sathianathan when he took up the offer from Kelantan FA (Kafa) president Tan Sri Annuar Musa to take charge of the team 10 days before the start of the Malaysia Cup competition.

The Red Warriors were left without a coach after the shock resignation of Peter Butler on Sept 16. The Englishman left for Myanmar to become the technical director of Yangon United FC.

Sathianathan, who was sacked as national coach in February, had expected to see Kelantan making stronger challenges next season.

“The players had just returned home from a holiday and playing tour of London and it was during the fasting month,” he said.

“I was shocked when I first saw them play a friendly game in Kota Baru. It was a tough situation but I am glad the players worked very hard and got back into shape.”

Kelantan are now in high spirits.

Sathianathan credited the team for their spirited performance in the semi-final second-leg match against Perlis at the Stadium Utama in Kangar last Saturday. The team were without three stalwarts – Indra Putra Mahayuddin, Mohd Badri Radzi and Azlan Ahmad Zainal – but still managed to win the match 3-1 to advance 5-1 on aggregate.

Sathianathan added that Kelantan were not a “one-man team” as some critics make them out to be.

”We proved everyone wrong in the return match in Kangar. We won comfortably without the suspended Indra and the young players in the team showed that they can play good football too,” he said.

“People say Indra is Kelantan but I say Kelantan is Indra. The team have complemented well with Indra and that is why he is outstanding for Kelantan.”

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