KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor FC head coach Nidzam Jamil was pleased with his team’s sharp decision-making, which resulted in a fruitful outcome in their Malaysia FA Cup opener against Negeri Sembilan FC at the MBPJ Stadium yesterday.
The Red Giants comfortably won the match 4-0, courtesy of goals from Yohandry Orozco (6th, 15th minute) and new signing Alvin Fortes (45th, 54th), who each scored a brace.
The match, which attracted a total of 9,861 Red Giant fans to the stadium, saw Nidzam deploying his effective 4-1-4-1 formation while giving game time to several players such as Quentin Cheng, Azim Al-Amin, Aiman Hakimi, Muhammad Abu Khalil, and Haiqal Haqeemi.
Nidzam said that he was glad to see his charges making use of their opportunities to score, while overcoming their opponents’ threats with ease.
“We had no plans to score two early goals in the match, but I’m surprised that my players managed to read the situation on the pitch and play according to their attacking strengths.
“I’m also impressed that we managed to score a total of nine goals and yet to concede in any of our three recent matches.
“More than that, I’m also happy to see that the players are taking their chances well.
“Progressing to the next round of the competition is a gift for the entire team prior to Hari Raya Haji.
“The commitment has been great, and I’m also happy to see Faisal Halim after a month in our dressing room, which literally boosted our morale before the kick-off.
“Now I’m just hoping for a few key players, such as Reziq Bani Hani and Izwan Yuslan, to come back from injuries, and we hope to maintain our momentum in the upcoming matches,” said Nidzam during a post-match conference.
Meanwhile, Nidzam applauded the club’s efforts in coming up with a Father’s Day campaign for the players and the coaching staff during the match.
The campaign saw all the Red Giants players’ fathers present at the stadium to watch the match.
“It was a beautiful campaign, and I’m happy that all the fathers were at the stadium to support their sons. It definitely had a positive impact on our game against Negeri Sembilan.
“I wish my father was around with me on this beautiful occasion. He passed away three months ago,” added a teary Nidzam.
For the record, the Red Giants have won the FA Cup five times (1991, 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2009) in their 119-year history. – June 16, 2024