“I hope the fantastic Perak supporters flood the stadium, be loud and be proud of their team this weekend.
That’s former Perak boss Steve Darby’s message for the fans, ahead of the Seladangs crunching FA Cup second leg tie against PKNS FC this weekend. The first leg was an absolute thriller. Four goals were scored, but more importantly for the Perak, they acquired two away goals which puts them in a comfortable position, ahead of this weekend.
It’s been a topsy-turvy season thus far, as most Perak fans would tell you. At one point, they had the best defensive record in the league. Then they went on a minor losing streak, before ending it with a thrilling win over league leaders Felda United last weekend.
But somehow, the team has survived every obstacle they’ve faced in the FA Cup and they are now on the brink of making history. It’s been nine years since Perak was last in a cup final and Steve Darby, who led the Seladangs into the Malaysia Cup final in 2007, is delighted to see his former club being on the brink of a cup final again.
“It’s delightful, really. I’m so pleased for Choi [Shamsul Saad] and the team. He has turned things around in Perak and I’m really happy for him,” Steve told FourthOfficial.com
“Of course, nothing is done and dusted yet. But it’s good to see the management backing him this year and he’s evolved into a great coach,” he added.
While the other teams get one weekend off, things are already starting to heat up in Ipoh. Tickets sales have been off the charts and judging by the ongoing momentum, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the stadium jam-packed on Saturday night – a no mean feat for a team that rarely gets a full house at home.
Some may attribute the lack of support to Perak’s continuous struggles over the years, but as far as Steve is concerned, none of that matters this weekend. According to him, the only thing that matters is for the fans to stand behind their young team and absorb the pressure on Saturday night.
“Most of the current Perak players were very young kids, when I was in charge, so I don’t know them too well. But I definitely wish them well and I hope the Yobs and Yongs support them and hopefully help them seal the coveted final spot,” he added.
The Perak vs PKNS tie is scheduled to take place at the Perak Stadium tomorrow, with kick-off slated for 9.00 PM.
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