MELAKA, May 23 (Bernama) -- The Melaka Titans are confident of squaring off with other teams in the Sepak Takraw League (STL) after returning to play in the Premier League this season.
Melaka Titans head coach Khairul Anuar Ibrahim believes his line-up consisting of a combination of young and experienced players is capable of providing fierce opposition despite being considered underdogs in the tournament.
“We are making improvements and highlighting young players born in Melaka paired with experienced players who have represented the country and played in STL before.
“Despite not having any (current) national players, I don’t consider it a weakness because I believe the advantages in this team are that they are capable of giving the best performance with the hope that the experienced players can help the rookies,” he said here last night.
Earlier, the Melaka Titans Introduction of Players ceremony for the 2023 STL-Premier League was officiated by State Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) exco V. P. Shanmugam.
Also present was the president of the Melaka Sepak Takraw Association (Pastam) Datuk Akramuddin Abdul Aziz.
Khairul Anuar, who once coached the squad in 2018, said that for this Premier League season, Melaka Titans will feature five former national players as well as two imported players from Thailand and one young player.
“These two imported players from Thailand are young players and are not big names but have great potential.
“For compatibility, they also already know about each other’s game because they have played together at the national level,” he said.
Commenting further, the 44-year-old coach said he is also aiming for the Melaka Titans to finish top-four in the STL this season, in addition to remaining in the Premier League competition for next season.
Melaka Titans, who emerged champions of Division 1 in STL 2021/22, will meet the ATM Guardians who won the Premier League, in the Charity Shield curtain-raiser this Friday.
-- BERNAMA
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