Sarawak coach Robert Alberts has made a bold prediction that Sarawak could win the Malaysia Cup this season, and that the Premier League champions might even meet Singapore Lions XII in the final.
For the Dutchman to suggest that the Crocs can make it to the second round is already quite a tall order, considering that the Malaysia Cup has always been elusive to them. The closest Sarawak have come to lifting the trophy was in 1999 when they made it to the final but lost to Brunei.
According to Alberts, Sarawak’s survival beyond the first round depended on four key things.
The first is to be better prepared than other teams. Secondly they must make it to the top two in their group and having done that, they must qualify for the final eight.
The ultimate target is to make it to the final.
Still, the Crocs have been going from strength to strength, ending the previous season at the top and in style.
This, and the fact that other teams including the top ones are struggling, has made Alberts confident.
“I feel Sarawak deserve a Malaysia Cup win this season. Nothing is impossible as we have proven it in the Premier League.
“Winning the cup is fantastic and would be a dream come true. Who knows? It might be us meeting the Super League champions, the Lions, in the final.
“The draw makes it such a way that the two teams can meet without eliminating each other out in the early stages.
“Why I feel we have a good chance this year is that the draw has been good and there’s a potential for us to make it to the top two.
“The team have proven to be stronger this season with the inclusion of quality players like Joseph Kallang, Ronny Harun and Mafry Balang,” said Alberts.
He imagined that if Sarawak were to make a fairy tale run to the final, they could be the first promoted from the Premier League to win Malaysia Cup.
For the Dutchman, nothing is impossible in football.
-Image and articvle from The Star
