Kota bharu: Kelantan Red Warrior FC (KRW FC) head coach Irfan Bakti Abu Salim admitted that the majority of his players have not yet reached the level required to compete in the Super League. He said the situation was a challenge for his team to compete with other teams that have more experienced local and imported players.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Irfan Bakti expressed his concerns after KRW FC's match against Kuala Lumpur City FC (KL City) at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, where they lost 1-3. This defeat marked their fourth consecutive loss since being promoted from the Semi-Pro League to the Super League this season. Irfan Bakti acknowledged that while most of his players are playing in the top league for the first time, only a few have prior experience in the Super League.

Despite the challenges, Irfan Bakti emphasized that lack of experience should not be an excuse for a reduced commitment from his players. He stressed the importance of giving 100 percent effort in every match. He noted tactical weaknesses, especially in handling high balls and dead ball situations, as contributing factors to their defeat. Player registration constraints were identified as a primary obstacle in addressing these weaknesses, despite the management's efforts to find a solution.

Meanwhile, KL City head coach Datuk Dollah Salleh praised his team for their discipline and resilience, especially after falling behind by one goal. He expressed confidence in the abilities of the reserve players who were given an opportunity in the match.