Aidil plays down favourites' tag

2009/11/05

Devinder Singh

AIDIL Zafuan Radzak does not believe Negri Sembilan's 10-match winning run in the Malaysia Cup makes them favourites for Saturday's final against Kelantan at the National Stadium.

The Negri defender thinks his team enter the final as the underdogs, given the blaze of publicity directed towards Kelantan for making their first final after 39 years, a view shared by Selangor coach K. Devan.

The 22-year-old Aidil, who will be making his first appearance in the final, said the underdog tag will ease pressure on his team despite their perfect record in the tournament to date.

"People talk of us having won all of our games but that means nothing when we play in the final. Statistics don't make us champions," said Aidil after being voted the best defender at the 100Plus-FAM National Football Awards in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

"I don't think it puts any pressure on us at all because everyone has been talking about Kelantan winning their first Malaysia Cup. In fact, I'm happy with that because it makes us the underdogs."

But Aidil does believe that Negri have what it takes to lift the Malaysia Cup for the first time since 1948, when it was still known as the Malaya Cup.

FA of Malaysia deputy president Khairy Jamaluddin presents the best defender award to Negri Sembilan’s Aidil Zafuan Radzak at the National Football Awards in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

"I think the advantage we have is that there is a good mix of experience and youth in the team.

"You look at the defence, there is Shukor Adan with me, Idris Kadir and Rezal (Zambery Yahya) in midfield and Hairuddin Omar playing alongside my brother (Zaquan Adha) in attack.

"There is a good balance in the team although I think whoever performs better on the night will win," said the national Under-23 skipper.

There is a sub-plot to the final as Kelantan's Indra Putra Mahayuddin and Zaquan chase the top scorer honour in the Malaysia Cup with Indra leading the way on 10 goals to Zaquan's nine.

But Aidil feels that Zaquan could well become the match winner as he gave an inkling into the telepathy that twins are said to possess.

"In a final, just one goal will be enough. Kelantan have the experienced Indra Putra (Mahayuddin) to rely on but if Zaquan uses his skills and maturity to good effect, he will make Kelantan pay," said Aidil.

Devan, who took Negri to the Malaysia Cup final in 2006, thinks Kelantan fans will be celebrating their first major trophy with Indra, voted the country's most valuable player at the awards, leading the charge.

"I think Kelantan hold the edge over Negri as they have proven match winners in Indra and Norfarhan Mohammad.

" They also have a better pattern of play and are more attack minded," said Devan, who was handed the best coach award.

But there is an added motivation that Aidil believes will drive Negri on.

"We desperately want to realise our dream of becoming Malaysia Cup champions as it will be a perfect gift for Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir for his installation as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan," added Aidil.