Kedah determines to win on home ground

Kedah playing against Selangor in MSL. Kedah will play aginst Victory (MDV) in tomorro's AFC encounter. photo: jeebsion.fotopages.com

Male', MALDIVES - Kedah's preparation for tomorrow's game against Victory Sports Club of the Maldives is not affected eventhough team captain Victor Andrag is injured and striker Hasmawi Hassain is down with flu.

On the contrary, the Canaries, Malaysia's representative in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup 2008, is determined to start their campaign on a winning note in their Group E encounter at the Darul Aman Stadium.

Coach Mohd Azraai Khor Abdullah said Kedah had not set any targets in their inaugural participation in the championship, but the team would nonetheless field its best eleven.

"I expect an exciting game as Victory Sports Club is leading the table in the Maldives' Dhiveli League while Kedah is the table toppers for Malaysia's Super League," he told a news conference today.

He said Victory Sports Club, last year's Dhiveli League champion, was a strong team and had participated in the AFC club championship since last year.

Victory Sports Club chief coach Mauroof Ahmed promised no less than an exciting encounter.

"We shall give you a hard time and you'll be quiverring in your seats watching the performance of the two teams which are a class of their own," he said.

Mauroof said he would be fielding two Maldives internationals, Ibrahim Fazil who is playing for Brunei DPMM, and another who had played in the Malaysian league two years ago.

He said, like Kedah, the team under his charge was a combination of spirited young players and experienced senior players. "We are a consistent team in the Dhiveli Club."

Kedah will travel to the Maldives on April 3 for the return leg but prior to that, it would take on Singapore's Home United in an away match on March 18.

Courtesy; Bernama.com