Stretchable: Kedah’s Manuel Hidalgo’s jersey is pulled by a Selangor player (right) during their Super League match at the Darul Aman Stadium on Saturday. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Selangor coach Tan Cheng Hoe looked at his bench and broke into a smile after the final whistle against Kedah.
And there is a very special reason behind it... the former national coach has finally led a club to an Asian competition.
Cheng Hoe masterminded a 1-0 win against his old side at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on Saturday.
The win confirmed them a spot in the AFC Champions League Two as they are guaranteed second place in the Super League behind champions Johor Darul Ta’zim.
Currently they are on 58 points before their last game of the season against Police on Dec 17. Their closest rivals Kedah are third on 53 points.
The Red Giants winning goal was scored by Colombian striker Ayron Del Valle in the 63rd minute when he finished off a delightful cross from second-half substitute, midfielder Brendan Gan.
“This is one of my special wins because in my career I have not taken a club to the Asian stage,” he said.
“It was a challenge but we managed to go through because of our set-up. I want to thank RMS (Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah), the management and the coaches for backing me all the way. I always say I alone can’t do anything. Football is all about teamwork.
“Plus, I am a big fan of team harmony and I believe that can lead us to bigger things.”
Cheng Hoe disclosed that the game had him sitting on the edge of his seat.
“Kedah were pressing hard as they too want to compete in Asia. We nearly conceded a goal in the first-half, which could have affected our morale but we stayed resolute.
“After the break, we kept calm and eventually got the goal. Brendan, as we all know, is a player that can play in various positions. His entry gave energy to the team because in the first half, we didn’t control the game.
“We brought him on to help with the defence and offensively we knew his directness would help. He gave a good delivery for Ayron to score.
“I would like to congratulate everyone for making this happen. Since the start of the season, the boys have worked hard to achieve this Asian dream.
“But the journey is still long. We need to be even more consistent and our performances have to be at a good standard.
“That we must aspire week in, week out.”
Cheng Hoe now wants to make sure the team are fully prepared for the biggest stage.
“For the Asian level, you need a thorough preparation. We cannot take it easy at all because at this stage, you face bigger and tougher teams.”
