Unknown clawed their way to the top

11/12/1998

TERENGGANU coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim described the Malaysia Cup Final
against Terengganu tomorrow at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium as a
revival of Malaysian soccer.
Rahman said with the upset of favourites Negri and Sabah in the
semifinals and the advancement of a Premier Two team to the coveted Cup
Final, the future of Malaysian soccer was bright.
"The two teams were never given a chance in the early days but they
still clawed their way to the top," said Rahman.
"Terengganu never had it easy and we had to fight to the top of the
Premier Two and then play in the qualifiers before marching into the
Malaysia Cup Finals. This is the kind of attitude the national team must
have to make their name in the international arena."
Perak team manager Datuk Raja Ahmad Raja Zainuddin played down the
Laszlo Repasi-Karl Weigang tussle with two words: "No problems."
He refused to comment on the issue although a police report has been
filed by Repasi.
"I don't know what happened because even though I was at the field after
the alleged scuffle, nobody said a thing about it to me.
"In fact, the team met Perak players from the 70s to motivate them after
training but not a word was said about the issue.
"I only read about it in the papers and I will probably comment on it on
Monday after speaking to both parties," said Raja Ahmad.
On the final, Raja Ahmad said: "I am speaking for both teams when I say
that playing at the National Stadium, which is a first for soccer, is a
privilege."
(END)