Azraai Khor is a man who has achieved wonders within the Malaysian football scene, but on Saturday, he will be taking on a challenge that would probably rank among the toughest he has ever encountered.
Malaysian football can be rewarding and unforgiving at the same time. While the decision to sack George Boateng was arguably harsh, when you consider the stats and ongoing circumstance at that point, it opened up a rewarding opportunity for Azraai Khor, who willingly halted his sabbatical in Brazil, returned to Malaysia before officially taking charge of Kelantan two days later.
It was never meant to be a fairy-tale, and while some fans may have expected a midas touch, Azraai himself recognized key issues within the team from the get-go. His debut with the team was not an ordinary match either, it was against Terengganu in what’s usually dubbed as the East Coast derby. And it certainly did not start well, as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat away from home.
Next on their list was fellow strugglers Sime Darby, and fans were hopeful of this match being the turning point of their season. Instead, what they got was a poor 1-1 draw that further dragged them towards the relegation zone of the league table. It was almost odd to see Kelantan’s name, juggling on that side of the table, considering we’ve been accustomed to seeing them dine with the finest of the country.
Then came Pahang. This was a complete wipeout, or a defeat if you would like it sugar-coated. Because truth be told, Pahang could have notched that one by a bigger margin, than the 2-0 win they ultimately secured. Jonathan McKain’s post-match facial expression described everything you needed to know about their performance.
So here we go. Three matches. One draw. Two defeats. 10th on the league table. Three points above the relegation zone. Not the most ideal start.
But for Azraai Khor, this Saturday represents a massive opportunity to shift paradigms. Johor DT host them in what could potentially be a battle of epic proportions. There are two key ways in which this match could go. It could either be Kelantan’s defining moment of the season, or it could be a colossal wipeout by the home side. I wouldn’t blame you if you’re inclined with the latter as well.
A simple look at Johor DT’s home record will point out the severity of this task, leave alone the squad depth that is available at Bojan Hodak’s disposal. Their victory over Kitchee SC last Tuesday, was important for symbolic reasons as well; it was a morale-boosting result. It wouldn’t also require much analysis to point out that the arrivals of Alhaji Kamara and Patito Rodriguez has boosted their squad ranks by a mile; Patito gives them an edge on the flanks, while Alhaji is all about the physique.
But as far as Azraai Khor is concerned, this will be his first real test. When he first took charge of the side, Azraai was quick to voice his displeasure at the quality of foreign players present within the team. And it wasn’t long before he criticised them after the game against Terengganu. This, essentially, isn’t his team. So the likes of Isaac Pupo and Emmanuel Kegmogne have both been dispatched and they have been replaced by Austin Amutu as well as Gilmar da Silva.
So to a certain extent, he’s already been able to exert his influence on the squad, bringing in two players that naturally matched the criteria he was looking for. Time is obviously a factor and it will be unfair to expect these two men to perform and hit the ground running tomorrow, but the gravity of the tie means that it’s nothing but crunch time for Azraai.
A defeat in this game, would not only put a massive dent on their hopes of securing continental football for next year, but also damage their morale on a large-scale, especially with the FA Cup tie against Sime Darby coming up next. Worse still, they will be taking on Selangor and Sarawak in their next two Super League matches.
Word from our sources suggests that morale within the Kelantan camp is at an all-time low, and a defeat against Johor DT will only add salt into their wounds.
The pressure is already on. And the time is ticking away. Mr. Azraai Khor, it’s showtime.
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