Johor Darul Tazim, di Malaysian side wey royal family dey back, dey set to make history dis Friday. Dem don equal di world record of 108 unbeaten league matches, and one draw or win against Kuching City go make dem surpass di record wey ASEC Mimosas hold for 32 years.
Di coach, Xisco Munoz, wey former Watford fans still remember well, say di record no be small thing. ‘E dey difficult to no lose one game,’ e talk. ‘Something fit happen, one day somebody dey sleep, or di whole team no concentrate, and you concede two goals. But we dey close to make history.’
Before di match, dia don dey one mata wey dey ginger talk. Six players wey JDT loan to Kuching City no go fit play against their parent club. Dem be Declan and Ryan Lambert, Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Safawi Rasid, Gabriel Nistelrooy, and Ajdin Mujagic.
Munoz explain say di players still get contract with JDT, and na to protect dem make dem no play. ‘If dem make mistake for their current team, plenty speculation go follow. Na why we dey protect di safety and integrity of di players,’ e yarn.
JDT don win 12 consecutive Malaysia Super League titles, and na di Crown Prince, Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim, wey buy di club for 2013 and turn am to di Manchester City of Malaysia. Munoz praise di owner, say e dey always provide wetin dem need, from gym equipment to medical supplies.
Di coach say Asian football get plenty room to grow. ‘Europe get problem with economy, dem dey stuck. Asia na di future,’ e tok. Di club dey focus on Asian Champions League, where dem reach quarter-finals last season, only to lose to Al-Ahli wey get Ivan Toney and Riyad Mahrez.
One player wey dey shine na Arif Aiman, dem dey call am ‘Asian Messi’. E score for di friendly against Chelsea wey end 3-3. Munoz say e remind am of João Pedro wey e coach for Watford. ‘E get di capacity to change di game anytime,’ e talk.
As di match approach, Munoz warn say Kuching City no be pushover. ‘E go be tough game. Dem be our most difficult rivals right now. We need big support from our fans,’ e advise.
