Kelantan will be looking to close the gap on Super League leaders Singapore Lions XII when they take on PKNS FC at the MBPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya tonight.
The Red Warriors are second in the standings with 34 points from 15 matches but they have four games in hand over leaders Lions XII, who have 39 points from 19 matches.
However, PKNS’ reputation as the draw specialists following eight draws – including a famous 1-1 deadlock with Kelantan in Kota Baru on Jan 13 – worries Kelantan’s coach Bojan Hodak.
“PKNS are a side that don’t score or concede many goals. It will be tough to play them in front of their home crowd. We must not forget that PKNS have beaten Lions XII,” said Hodak.
PKNS are bolstered by the experience of seasoned campaigners Mohd Nizaruddin Yusof and Ahmad Azlan Zainal in attack and defence respectively.
Hodak said other teams tend to raise their game against Kelantan. He also said that his players will have to ensure they take it one match at a time as any slip-up can be costly in their defence of the League title.
The east coast side have a tight schedule ahead of them as they take on Sime Darby FC in the FA Cup final on March 19 and then bitter rivals Terengganu in the AFC Cup second round match in Kota Baru on May 23.
“We will be in trouble against PKNS if the players are thinking about the FA Cup final,” said the former UPB-MyTeam coach.
“We have a tight schedule and we have to focus on one game at a time and guard against complacency.”
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