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Sime Darby need LionsXII scalp

SINGAPORE — With the backing of one of Malaysia’s biggest conglomerates, Sime Darby FC should be, on paper at least, one of the favourites for the Malaysia Super League (MSL) title.

SINGAPORE — With the backing of one of Malaysia’s biggest conglomerates, Sime Darby FC should be, on paper at least, one of the favourites for the Malaysia Super League (MSL) title.

Instead, the club’s policy of prudence has seen them lose many of their best players, including Malaysian international winger Indra Putra Mahyuddin, who is now with Felda United, and forward Amri Yahyah to big-spending MSL rivals Johor Darul Takzim.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s clash with MSL champions LionsXII at their Selayang Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Sime Darby FC coach Ismail Zakaria told TODAY that holding on to their best players is a constant struggle.

“We buy and invest wisely. We live within our budget. Of course, Sime Darby, which bankrolls the team, is a very successful business venture, but that doesn’t mean the cash is endless for the football team,” said Ismail.

“At the start of the season we were talking to some “big names” who were interested in playing for us. But once the offers came in for them from other teams, they asked if Sime Darby FC could match or even go above what was offered to them. Of course, it was impossible for us to do so.”

Sime Darby FC, finalists in the 2012 Malaysian FA Cup, gained promotion to the top-tier MSL after finishing second in last season’s Malaysia Premier League.

The club currently sit eighth in the 12-team MSL with 13 points from 10 games and are six points adrift of leaders Pahang and five ahead of bottom side Perak.

Ismail, whose side will rely heavily on the likes of former Malaysian internationals Juzaili Samion and Faderin Kadir in the absence of suspended Uzbek midfielder Dilshod Sharofetdinov, believes the fixtures against fifth-placed LionsXII — they meet again at the Jalan Besar Stadium on April 12 — will be crucial.

“The leadership race is still wide open and there are at least five teams who are flirting with relegation, so things can change over one or two matches,” said Ismail.

“We just got away from the relegation zone after our 3-2 win over Armed Forces last week and the LionsXII also can heave a huge sigh of relief after collecting two wins and a draw in their last three matches. So it is still a slippery slope for many teams.”

LionsXII centre-back Safuwan Baharudin has caught the eye this season whenever coach Fandi Ahmad has deployed him upfront as an emergency forward.

But Ismail believes the key to nullifying the Singaporean is to police him closely, especially at set-pieces.

“Safuwan is technically very sound and effective in set pieces when the LionsXII are attacking,” said Ismail. “(But) I also think their forward Khairul Amri is a very experienced player with plenty of flair. But it’s the LionsXII teamwork that stands out.

“Three points is what we need on Saturday. We are playing at home and must capitalise on home ground advantage.”

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