Deer firing on all cyclinders but Harimau hot on their heels

PETALING JAYA: The new-look Negri Sembilan team may be going great guns but it is the Harimau Muda ‘A’ team who are making heads turn in the Malaysian Super League (MSL) this season.

The Deer, coached by Wan Jamak Wan Hassan are perched at the top of the 14-team Super League standings with six points from two straight wins – beating Harimau Muda 1-0 and T-Team 3-1.

Newly-signed striker Hairuddin Omar said although they had a formidable side, “we still need time to become championship material”.

“On paper, we have a strong team but, given more time, we can forge better understanding and make better progress,” he said yesterday.

Negri have several new buys, including Hairuddin, Ahmad Fakri Saarani, Mohd Farizal Marlias, Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, Irwan Fadli Idrus and G. Mahathevan.

They also have experienced players in Mohd Zaquan Adha, Mohd Aidil Zafuan, Idris Karim, Mohd Shukor Adan and Shahurain Abu Samah.

While Negri’s feat is not that surprising, the same cannot be said of the Harimau Muda boys, who have staked an early claim for honours with some gutsy displays.

Although they conceded a late goal to lose 1-0 to Negri in their opening game on Saturday, the signs are there that coach Ong Kim Swee’s boys have what it takes to take on the so-called big boys.

On Tuesday, Kim Swee’s boys fought back from a goal down to beat Pahang 3-1, with their attacking players – Syahrul Izwari Ibrahim, Izzaq Faris Ramlan, Mohd Fandi Othman and Wan Zack Haikal – putting up an encouraging performance.

“Some of these boys can walk straight into the national team, especially 18-year-old Syahrul Azwari. I see a bright future for the lad. He is doing well in the first team and has been a real menace to the oppositions,” said Kim Swee of his players who were exposed to European football during their training-cum-playing stint in Slovakia last year.

Centrebacks Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Mohd Fadhli Shas, rightback Mahali Jasuli and leftback Mohd Faizal Mohd were with the national team that won the Suzuki Cup last December.

The other notable players in the Harimau Muda squad are midfielders K. Gurusamy, Mohd Fandi Othman, Gary Steven Robbat and S. Siva.