Kedah's kids growing up on the big stage
This was a “no contest” on paper. Even after Kedah’s Scottish coach
Ian Gillan marked my card by explaining that the Quarter Final victory
over Kelantan was no one off, and that “these kids can play”.
Like so many others, I was so wrong about Kedah. We hadn’t really
looked at the crop of kids coming through the ranks at Kedah. We hadn’t
given the North Western state the credit they deserved for getting past
Terengganu, Sarawak and Perak in the group phase of the Malaysia Cup. We
looked at the problems facing Sarawak, and were surprised when Kedah
went to Terengganu and got a draw. Terengganu must have had an off night
– we reasoned. As must Perak when the Super League team were
comprehensively beaten 2-0 in the deciding group game in Alor Setar.
We still hadn’t looked at what was going on at Kedah. We hadn’t
studied the individual qualities of the young players being groomed at
Kedah so we were absolutely shocked when they demolished Kelantan in the
quarterfinals.
Close inspection reveals that Kedah have coached and introduced a
talented crop of youngsters over the season so much so that in the high
profile matches against Kelantan and Pahang, young talent such as the
teenaged Farhan Roslan, Rizal Ghazali, Syafiq Tajuddin, Syafiq Ahmad and
Hanif Dzahir were instrumental in keeping their much vaunted opponents
at bay.
Hanif looks a like a veteran already in midfield and conceded
possession just once in the semi final first leg against Pahang; Syazwan
has been converted from a defender to holding midfielder and has
nullified both Badhri Radzi and Faizol Hussein in back-to-back games and
was my man-of-the match until cramp forced him off 10 minutes from time
against Pahang; Rizal Ghazali played his first ever match as a full
back against Kelantan, and kept R Gopinathan largely quiet in his second
game in the position; Syafiq scored in both legs against Kelantan, and
set up the late third goal for Khyril Muhymeen – all as an impact
substitute.
But the star of the first leg victory over Pahang was the diminutive
Farhan. He fairly roasted the experienced Saifulnizam in the first leg
against the Elephants, and scored with a soaring header in the second
half – despite being the smallest an lightest player on the pitch. His
team-mates call him “Messi” such is his skill which was honed on the
futsal pitches of Alor Setar before being thrown into the cauldron like
atmosphere of a Malaysia Cup semi final.
Sir Alex Ferguson always believed that you should trust in young
talent and that they will always surprise you. Certainly Tan Cheng Hoe
has trusted the young charges at his disposal by putting them into the
big matches, and keeping the pressure off them, whilst coach Gillan has
been key behind the scenes in developing these players so that, when
given the stage, they were able to thrive.
Of course, it’s not just about the youngsters. Londoner Billy Mehmet
leads the line superbly and is a real source of encouragement and
inspiration to the rest of the team. Korean Woong Nam-Kung can and does
produce moments of inspiration such as his 30-yard pile driver to open
the scoring in Alor Setar. Australian, Adam Griffiths, is a steadying
influence to complement the whole hearted Khairul Helmi Johari at centre
back, Shafizan Hashim earned the admiration of Kelantan coach George
Boateng for his performances in the quarter final victory over the Red
Warriors, whilst Baddrol Bakhtiar and Khyril Muhymeen are locals who
were part of the last great crop of youngsters produced by Kedah. That
team won the treble twice.
No one would predict that this group of Kedah kids will go on to win
the treble. Few are reckoning that they will even survive an expected
onslaught from Pahang in Friday’s second leg, but then again, nobody
really expected them to be leading 3-1 from the first leg, and even
fewer predicted they’d get this far at all.
Kids will constantly surprise you. Kedah’s kids have certainly done that.
source: http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3986/editorial/2014/10/21/5315871/dez-corkhill-kedahs-kids-growing-up-on-the-big-stage?CMPID=FBMAL_141021_DEZKEDAH
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