Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Melaka: Balkan boss Rahim Kurbanmamedov will not underestimate fellow AFC President’s Cup 2013 finalists KRL Football Club despite them having scored three times more goals than the Pakistani club during the group stage of their finals campaign.
The Turkmenistan league champions scored a total of 10 goals in the tournament, all of them unanswered, with six of them in their routing of Three Star Club from Nepal in their opening match while the remaining four were recorded in their second and final group match against Mongolia’s Erchim.
KRL, meanwhile, scored a goal only against two-time champions Dordoi of Kyrgyzstan and then beat Palestine’s AlQuds Hilal Club 2-0 to punch their ticket to the final match against Balkan at the Hang Jebat Stadium on Sunday.
“Even though we have scored more goals than KRL, it doesn’t mean we are better than them,” said Kurbanmamedov.
“We still respect the Pakistani club but we will try to win this game also. It all depends on which team plays better and that is the team that will win.
“Both teams were unbeaten in the finals campaign so far. We have watched their games and I’d say our chance to win is 50-50.
“But we do feel good because it’s the first time we are qualifying for the final of the competition. I hope the good feeling will be repeated after the final game.”
Photo: WSG