TFC To Focus On Recuperating Team In Time For FA Cup

KUALA NERUS, July 31 (Bernama) -- The Turtles will focus on the players’ recovery in preparation for the FA Cup second semi-final match against Selangor FC this Saturday.

Head coach Tomislav Steinbruckner said his men are now in a state of fatigue with a lack of fitness after going through a relatively busy schedule of matches recently.

He said the situation was worsened by the injury problems that plagued some of the key players of the team.

"For the coming Saturday match, we will focus more on recovery and how to prepare team because of players injury. Alif (Alif Zakaria) is out. I hope Ismaheel (Ismaheel Akinade will come back... Nijey (Shahrul Nizam Ros Hasni) looks tired.

"Steenvordeen (Matthew Steenvordeen) not bad... but not fully fit and must work hard. But, I understand because after seven months here he only played two games after a long recovery from injury," he said after the Super League match against Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC ) at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium (SSMZA), here last night.

In that match the Turtles managed to get three points after defeating NSFC 3-2 thanks to goals from Muhammad Safawi Rasid, Muhammad Akhyar Rashid and Chukwu Chijioke.

Meanwhile, the goals of Azzmi Ab Aziz's squad were contributed by Miguel Martinez and Jacque Faye.

In the meantime, Steinbruckner said TFC intends to bring in a striker in the second transfer window of the season.

He is to replace Croatian-born striker Ivan Mamut who had to be released due to lingering injury problems.

-- BERNAMA