Coach Tomislav Steinbruckner (in red) giving out instructions during training. - Photo by Terengganu FC
PETALING JAYA: Things are not looking up for Terengganu football team just days before the new Super League season is set to start.
Their player Akhyar Rashid, who is on loan from Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), was robbed by several men in Kuala Terengganu on Thursday night, which saw him suffering injuries to his hands and legs.
The 25-year-old winger was taken to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital after the incident.
With the season starting on May 10, there are concerns if Akhyar could shake off the incident and return to training but coach Tomislav Steinbruckner said he would take the ‘wait-and-see’ approach.
“I got the information on the incident from the club. At the moment, he can’t train yet. He did not feature in our last friendly against Kelantan,” said Steinbruckner.
“It was a serious situation for him, so we will see what we have to do. I cannot say immediately if he would be available for the first league game against Perak on May 11.
“I hope he returns soon but we will wait and see. His well-being is important at the moment.”
Akhyar’s incident is a blow to the club as they also have to deal with injuries to main striker Ivan Mamut, centreback Matthew Steenvorden, leftback Safwan Mazlan and rightback Azam Azmi Murad.
Mamut and Steenvorden are expected to return in three weeks, while Safwan and Azam are slowly returning to full training but are still being assessed if they are fit for the first game against Perak.
Steinbruckner, though, is not hitting the panic button.
“Yes the players out are first-team materials but I have other players who can deputise for them,” he said.
“Take Mamut for example. He was a key player for us last season, so his injury will be felt but we have Ismaheel Akinade.
“He has Super League experience and from the pre-season matches we have played, he has shown good quality. We also have young striker Syahmi (Zamri), who can do the job for us up front.
“If Akhyar is not available, we have other wingers like Norhakim Hassan and Nik Shareef Haseefy.
“It’s time for the back-up players to show that they are capable of being first-team material. I expect maximum performance from all the players in the squad.”
