Perak don’t exactly have a local or regional derby, that usually steals the spotlight from their season. But what they do have, is a long-standing rivalry against Selangor; one that is neither new nor too rusty. Every year, when both sides take on each other, it’s usually nothing short of fireworks.
This time around, it won’t be any different; but for several other reasons as well. The Red Giants were on an unbeaten run of five matches, before it was ended by Kelantan last week, leaving a minor dent in their hopes of establishing a comfortable lead at the top of the table. That result allowed PDRM to squeeze past them into the lead and the Red Giants will be looking to bounce back this week.
But they also know that a defeat could potentially create a four-point gap with the league leaders, considering that PDRM are taking on ATM tonight, in a game that they will be expected to clinch victory. So motivation-wise, there’s plenty to expect from this one.
Some of the Selangor players, were also ex-Perak men, and these individuals were fan favourites as well. Shahrom Kalam was highly regarded during his stint with the Seladangs, while Hadi Yahya, despite his lack of success, was always treated as an important player within the dressing room. These individuals were unceremoniously pushed out of the club, after accusations pertaining to match-fixing, emerged from their own management. Plenty to prove tomorrow? We think so too.
Meanwhile, the Seladangs are on a high. They got knocked out of the FA Cup by Terengganu, but Datuk M. Karathu’s men showcased tremendous resilience to bounce back and defeat Johor DT in their next game; the mark of a team that has got it’s sense of belief figured out.
While their achievements earlier during the season, were always dismissed as luck, it’s perfectly acceptable to acknowledge them as powerhouses this year. Perak are three points behind the Red Giants as of now, with a game in hand. Hence, a victory tonight, will allow them to level the Red Giants’ points tally, and keep scaling heights on the league table.
Either way, this game has entertainment written all over it. Victory? It could go either way. Maybe that’s the fun bit about this one.
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