PETALING JAYA: German Frank Bernhardt (pic) admits he’s facing the biggest challenge in his 20 years of coaching as he attempts to lift an under-crisis Kelantan as they take on Terengganu in an FA Cup quarter-final clash at the Sultan Mizan Stadium in Gong Badak today
The Red Warriors coach faces an uphill task as his side are reeling after five straight losses, the last being a 4-1 collapse against Police at home in the Super League.
Last month, Kelantan owner Norizam Tukiman set a key performance index (KPI) for Bernhardt, whose days could be numbered given the number of defeats the team have already suffered.
Worse still, Norizam is also withholding 50% of the players’ salaries due to the side’s poor run.
But Bernhardt, being a true never-say-die German, is not losing sleep over the alarming scenario.
He intends to take Kelantan as far as they can go in the FA Cup.
“We’re in the FA Cup quarter-finals, so let’s fight hard and make something out of it,’’ said the former UiTM coach.
“I took over a team with good personalities. But fitness, power and some basic skills are lacking, problems which should have been solved during the pre-season, which was before I took over as coach.
“Against Terengganu, we must push ourselves to the limit and see how far we can go. Cup games are different, and we have a chance to defy the odds.’’
“In my 20 years of coaching, I’ve never faced a challenge quite like this.
“But I don’t feel overly pressured as when I took over, some of the better foreign players had already left.’’
Among the quality players who moved on when Bernhardt came on board were Filipino internationals Carli De Murga and Christian Rontini.
“If I had my choice of players, had more preparation time, or taken over a team with more quality, I would be in a totally different situation.
“But still, I’m wholly responsible now as the coach.’’
