IPOH: PKNP FC are not about to push the panic button just yet even though they have lost their first two Super League matches.
In fact, coach Abu Bakar Fadzim stressed that it is still too early in the season for PKNP to panic after only three matches.
The conglomerate club have won one match and lost the other two.
"We have only played three matches so far. It was unfortunate for us that we had to play two of the league’s top team’s in Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Kedah,” he said.
Abu Bakar said that during the match against Northern giants The Red Eagles, his charges matched their opponents for 85 minutes of the match before a stroke of bad luck saw them go down 1-0 to Kedah.
"They have good, experienced players who have played in the Super League all this while, whereas we are still raw and our team has just been formed while also coming to terms with playing in the country’s top league. This is why our players need to be given the time, space and opportunity to get their act together,” he said.
Abu Bakar added that their four import players, namely Yeon Gisung, Keo Sokpheng, Nikolv Luben Gueorguiev along with Anzite Touadere Clovis Franklin are new to the Malaysia League (M-League) and they are making the effort to acclimatise themselves with the rest of the team as well as the style of play.
"They (PKNP’s foreign players) are working hard to get into the rhythm and forge a better understanding with their teammates,” said Abu Bakar.
He admitted that the team’s attack is still blunt after having to do without their influential captain, Muhamad Shahrel Fikri who only returns to action in the next match against city side Kuala Lumpur.
Nevertheless, Abu Bakar still managed to smile thanks to the progress of youngster Muhammad Alif Safwan Mohd Sallahuddin.
"He (Alif Safwan) has the potential to become a top player,” said Abu Bakar of the forward from the Pahang Malaysia Sports School in Gambang.