KUALA LUMPUR: Former national coach K. Rajagobal will attempt to take PKNS closer to the club's first major title when they face Perak in the FA Cup quarter-finals first leg in Shah Alam on Saturday.
PKNS have made a bright start to the season under Rajagobal, sitting third in the Super League, and just two points behind leaders Johor Darul Ta'zim besides reaching the last-eight of the FA Cup.
After making significant changes to the squad following his appointment in November last year, Rajagobal has managed to get the best out his players as they look to fulfill the club's ambition of winning a major title.
Defender K. Reuben attributes the good start made by PKNS to Rajagobal's attention to detail in training and preparing the team for games.
"Coach (Rajagobal) has been instrumental and despite making big changes to the squad, he has brought in players that he has worked with before," said Reuben in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday during the launch of Puma's new footwear.
"He had a big task of making sure we can gel together and we've done that well. He always reminds us that consistency is important and to take it one game at a time.
"The season is long and every player is important, so he always keeps us on our toes."
After suffering relegation from the Super League last year with Penang, Reuben is glad to be still playing in the top-flight and that the coach has faith in him.
"I think I have improved a lot training under coach," said Reuben, 28, who made all nine of his appearances for Malaysia when Rajagobal was national coach from 2009 to 2013.
"At the national team, the coach gets you for a week or two. You have one friendly match before playing an official game and it is more about preparing for a specific game.
"Now, it's different at PKNS because he can go into specific areas and focus on individual players. That has been a great help."
PKNS came close to winning their first major trophy when they reached the FA CUp final in 2016 before losing 2-1 to JDT.
But Reuben does not want to look too far ahead despite PKNS, who beat Perak 2-0 in Lumut in a Super League match on Feb 10, having a good draw.
“We have to maintain what the coach has been telling us and take it one game at a time."