TURTLES COACH BADRUL AFZAN LEAVES HIS FATE TO TEAM MANAGEMENT AFTER DRAW WITH NS

SEREMBAN, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- Terengganu FC (TFC) head coach Badrul Afzan Razali insists that he will accept whatever decision is made by the team management regarding his future following the tam’s current performance.

He, however, hopes to be given the opportunity to continue guiding the Turtles until the end of the season.

“I’ll leave it to the team management (regarding his head coach position). Surely, I hope to be given the chance to continue because I want to guide them to the best finish possible… but I will accept whatever decision the club makes,” he said.

He said this after their 1-1 draw away to Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) in their Super League match at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi yesterday. 

Although the Turtles had to play with 10 men after Kyaw Min Oo was sent off for a foul on Jovan Motika outside the penalty box in the 15th minute, Badrul Afzan was full of praise for his men for never capitulating and managing to return home with at least a share of the spoils.

The local media had previously reported that the TFC management had given Badrul Afzan three matches to improve the team’s performances before any drastic action is taken.

Meanwhile, NSFC coach Mohd Nidzam Jamil was disappointed to see his side conceded a late equaliser and miss out on all three points on home ground, despite their numerical advantage.

“We should have killed the game earlier… although TFC played with 10 men, they were still a threat towards the last minutes of the game. We were a little naive in dealing with one or two situations. We would not have made the mistake if we had been stayed fully concentrated.

“People tend to say that it is easy when you have 11 players up against 10 men. Yes, there are plus points, but normally the most difficult thing is playing against 10 men, because they are more focused… we need to learn from this,” he said.

In yesterday’s match, NSFC broke the deadlock through a long-range goal by Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin in first-half injury time before a lapse of concentration late in the game allowed Muhammad Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili to equalise in added time.

NSFC are now sixth position in the 13-team Super League standings with 13 points while TFC are one spot above with 14 points.

-- BERNAMA