Zainal Abidin optimistic despite absence of two Pahang top players

Pahang head coach Zainal Abidin Hassan is optimistic of his squad's chances in the Malaysia Cup semi-final against Kedah despite losing two top players who would be suspended for one match.

He is confident that the excellent results from several matches earlier could be translated by the 'Tok Gajah' squad to bring victory in the first leg of the semi-final against Kedah at the Stadium Darul Aman, Alor Setar on Oct 19.

The two players who are being suspended are striker Dickson Nwakaeme and defender, Damian Delano Stewart who are expected to be fielded again to strengthen the Tok Gajah squad in the return match at the Stadium Darul Makmur, Kuantan on Oct 24.

"Earlier, we had to face many challenges including the red card given to our goalie, Mohd Nasril Nourdin in the match against the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) in Kuantan recently, ...Mohd Khairul Azhan Mohd Khalid who is still not fit but had to be fielded in place of Mohd Nasril.

"I know that we have a tough task in facing Kedah (in the first semi-final) without these two players, but I am confident that the players will come up with something," he told reporters.

Zainal Abidin disclosed this when met by reporters after the quarter-final match between Pahang and PDRM at the Stadium Shah Alam, last night.

Pahang advanced to the semi-finals after winning with an aggregate of 3-2 against PDRM while Kedah shocked the 2013 runners-up, Kelantan winning with an aggregate of 4-3 in another quarter-final.