Sapura have their backs to the wall when they take on favourites KL Hockey Club in the MHL Semi Final to be held at the Tun Razak Stadium.
The first leg will be played on Friday with the return leg on Saturday and Sapura are well aware of the fact that btheir season could well end trophyless if they play an open game in the first leg. The tactics will be evident, restrain KLHC from winning in the first leg and go for broke in the second leg.
But there is one problem though, KLHC have far superior fitness and with the two legs being played within 24 hours, it will take some doing from Sapura to upstage KLHC.
The first leg will be played on Friday with the return leg on Saturday and Sapura are well aware of the fact that btheir season could well end trophyless if they play an open game in the first leg. The tactics will be evident, restrain KLHC from winning in the first leg and go for broke in the second leg.
But there is one problem though, KLHC have far superior fitness and with the two legs being played within 24 hours, it will take some doing from Sapura to upstage KLHC.
These is what they had to say:
S. Kuhan - Sapura Captain
" We have a game plan for the first leg and will sit again after the game to decide what to do in the second leg. The important thing is to be with a chance for the second leg as we cannot allow KLHC to have a big advantage after the first leg. There is no doubt that they are the team to beat and we are capable of pulling off a surprise result. What is most important is to make use of the chances that we create and minimise our mistakes. Playing two matches in 24 hours will give the advantage to KLHC so we must be able to pace ouselves in order to survive the 140 minutes of hockey
R. Vivekananda - KLHC Coach
"Every team in the MHL is out to defeat us and it will be no different tomorrow. The semis are decided over two matches so the key thing is to be consistent on both days. We have all the respect for Sapura as it is never easy playing them as evident in our match in JB where we scraped past them with a 1-0 win. And they played the match without Jiwa and Jivan Mohan. In Kuhan they have an outstanding defender and with keeper Nasihin in good form, it will take some doing to overcome them. But I am optimistic we shall prevail.
