Tough task for T-Team

WHEN it rains, it pours for T-Team who will be without as many as six key players for the home match against Negri Sembilan today.



Zairo Anuar Zailani

Coach Yunus Alif said captain and playmaker Zairo Anuar Zailani, who did not play in the last two matches, has yet to recover from his groin injury.

If that is not bad enough, influential midfielder Rosdi Talib has also been ruled out from playing at Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium after picking up a calf injury against Selangor on Tuesday.

To make matters worse, regular defenders Hasbullah Awang and Norfazly Alias are both out on suspension after Hasbullah picked up a straight red card and Norfazly received his third yellow card at Shah Alam Stadium.

"It was a bruising encounter against Selangor as striker Faiz (Subri) and midfielder (Marco) Tulio came back with knocks and may not be fit enough for the visit of Negri Sembilan.

"Without Zairo, we lost 3-0 to Terengganu before we were beaten 5-0 by Selangor away from home and now we will have to play without Rosdi, Norfazly, Hasbullah and probably Faiz and Tulio too," he said.

Yunus said losing is no longer an option for T-Team as they are now down to seventh place in the league with seven matches remaining.

"The key here is not to lose faith in ourselves but after a couple of heavy defeats and now a lengthy injury list, it certainly is a challenge to motivate the boys.

"But I know that my boys are tough enough and when the going gets tough, they should get going," said the coach.