KELANTAN coach Bojan Hodak is having a different kind of headache ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup final against Sime Darby FC.
If a few weeks ago, he had trouble naming his starting 11 due to a lengthy injury list, now he has the same problem but this time due to a fully fit squad.
The 41-year-old Serb said that except for long-term absentees Azizi Matt Rose and Aziz Ismail, the rest of the squad are available for selection.
"A short while ago, Badri (Radzi), Azlan (Ismail), Ramzul (Zahini), Khairul (Izuan) and a few others were on the crock list but now they are not only healthy but more than eager to play in the final.
"Those who will not be among the 18 players picked for the final will probably hate me but I understand how they feel as I know we all want badly to get our hands on the FA Cup," he said.
Hodak said, on paper, Kelantan look too strong for Sime Darby who only came into existence two years ago and play in the Premier League.
"But it will be a huge mistake to underestimate them as we have seen what they can do to Super League teams like Sabah and Johor FC in the earlier rounds.
"They made history by eliminating defending champions Terengganu in the semi-finals to become the first club side to reach the final. We certainly do not want them to make more history on Saturday (tomorrow)," he said.
Hodak, who took over from Peter Butler as head coach in February, said the key to winning is by treating the Cup final like any other match.
"I know that it is easier said than done especially with the deafening roar of probably more than 60,000 fans in Bukit Jalil.
"The players have to remember they have been in similar situations many times before and all they need to focus on is winning their first ever FA Cup," he said. By Zainuddin Muhammad
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