PENANG FC SET FOR MAJOR SHAKE-UP, SAYS WAN ROHAIMI

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- Penang FC is expected to undergo a major shake-up in its lineup following a crushing defeat to Selangor FC in the Super League match at the Bandaraya Stadium here last night.

Head coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail expressed disappointment with his team’s lacklustre performance, which was marred by numerous basic mistakes and saw them concede five goals.

“I don’t want to offer excuses for this defeat, but I am very disappointed. Even though we were three goals down at halftime, the players still showed a desire to fight back.

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“However, things changed in the second half when we conceded after a simple mistake - a misplaced back pass to the goalkeeper that was intercepted by the opposing striker. That moment completely broke the team’s fighting spirit,” he said after the match.

The 49-year-old coach acknowledged the frustration of fans who turned up at the stadium to show their support, only to be met with such a disappointing result.

“I am even more disappointed with what happened tonight, so I will take action - a major overhaul,” he said.

He hoped the players would learn from the defeat and avoid repeating the same mistakes, especially with the team now facing a difficult situation.

Meanwhile, Selangor FC head coach Christophe Gamel expressed satisfaction with his players’ performance, praising their excellent display despite having their concentration disrupted when the match had to be halted twice due to lighting issues at the stadium.

“We have travelled a lot, so it was a bit unsettling and tiring. You have to focus, then refocus, focus again, and refocus. The players were a bit flat at times, but they responded well, and we motivated them enough to avoid any silly mistakes,” he said.

Last night’s match saw Selangor cruise to a 5-1 victory, though the game was halted twice in the first half due to malfunctioning floodlights at the stadium.

The defeat - Penang’s seventh this season - leaves the Harimau Kumbang squad rooted to the bottom of the league with only five points from 10 matches, while the Red Giants sit in fourth place with 19 points.

--BERNAMA