Kelantan: Kelantan The Real Warriors (TRW) FC players need to use their victory over Sabah FC in the Super League last night as a catalyst to fire their spirit in facing Selangor FC in the Malaysia Cup action at Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium here, Jan 19.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kelantan TRW assistant head coach Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli emphasized the importance of the 3-2 victory over Sabah FC. This win comes after a challenging period for the team, which is currently positioned in the lower ranks of the league standings. Akmal Rizal noted that the victory was crucial after the team had experienced six consecutive losses in the Super League and FA Cup, which had severely impacted their morale.

Assistant coach Akmal Rizal praised the players for their performance and expressed hope that the momentum from this win could be harnessed to effectively challenge Selangor FC in the upcoming Malaysia Cup match. Kelantan TRW currently stands in 11th place with 14 points, having secured four wins, two draws, and nine losses.

Meanwhile, Sabah FC assistant head coach Alto Linus attributed the defeat to the absence of several key players who were unavailable due to suspensions and injuries. He highlighted that these absences significantly influenced the team's performance, especially in an away game setting.

Linus mentioned that the three early goals conceded in the first half disrupted the team's rhythm. He acknowledged that Kelantan TRW capitalized on the mistakes made by the Sabah players, which resulted in the goals. He stressed the need for improvement, noting that the players did not adhere to the given instructions, allowing the opposing team too much freedom in their half.