Nidzam praises Kedah defenders, 'secret weapon' Akhyar

Zulhilmi Zainal

Nidzam praises Kedah defenders, 'secret weapon' Akhyar image


BY        ZULHILMI ZAINAL       Follow on Twitter


Kedah recorded their second consecutive win with their 2-0 round eleven Malaysia Super League victory over Pahang at home, but head coach Nidzam Adzha Yusoff was also pleased with the fact that his side kept a clean sheet in the match.

The hosts did all the scoring in the Tuesday game, their first match in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, with captain Baddrol Bakhtiar scoring from a free kick in the 45th minute, and Krasniqi sealing the win in the 89th minute.

Kedah vs Pahang match highlights

Although the Red Eagles did not lose in any of their previous four league matches, they could not avoid conceding, including in their 2-1 win over last-placed Negeri Sembilan almost two weeks earlier.

Speaking to the match broadcaster's pitch side commentator Stanley Bernard after the match, Nidzam praised his defenders and teenage forward Akhyar Rashid. The 19-year old Malaysia international came on early in the second half for the injured Andik Vermansah, and assisted the hosts' second goal.

"I have to praise the defence who were disciplined in marking opponents' three foreign players. The defence played very well against a very good striker force, and I made sure that there were six players involved when defending.

"Akhyar too played well, he is our secret weapon and our ace in bringing down our opponents," said the former player.

The result at the Darul Aman Stadium did not move Pahang from the third spot, but Kedah are now level with them on 18 points, in fifth place. Terengganu in fourth are also on 18, after they defeated second-placed Perak 2-0 at home on the same night. But the standings may change further, when three more round eleven encounters take place on Wednesday.

Zulhilmi Zainal