Curran Ferns, Felda United, 22/06/2017Goal

Ferns wants to repay Sathianathan's faith by helping Felda lift the Malaysia Cup


BY        ZULHILMI ZAINAL       Follow on Twitter


Felda United midfielder Curran Singh Ferns wants to repay the faith shown in him by head coach Bhaskaran R Sathianathan, by helping the Fighters lift the Malaysia Cup.

The Australian-born midfielder, who recently joined the Fighters in the mid-season transfer window following stints with JDT II and Negeri Sembilan, is confident that his side can lift this year's Malaysia Cup as they are one of the strongest sides in the second half of the 2017 season.

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"I think people need to realise that in the second half of the season, Felda are actually number one in the league. We're ahead of Johor (Darul Ta'zim) by one or two points and we've beaten everyone in the top four comfortably; Selangor, Pahang, Johor Darul Ta'zim and Kedah.

"We're not worried at all, we're very confident, but it's up to us now in the knockout stages. We had a bad day against PKNP FC (losing 3-1 in the quarter-final first leg), but that's football. If we stick to our gameplans and follow the coach's instructions, I think we'll be comfortable," said Ferns when met by Goal just before training on Friday.

Ahead of their first leg Malaysia Cup semi-final match against Kedah this Sunday, the 24-year old said that the Fighters are banking on forward Thiago Augusto Fernandes' experience and ability to get the job done.

The Brazilian had joined the Red Eagles for a loan spell, in the second half of the 2016 season.

"To me Thiago has got the experience and is the best foreign striker in the league, I don't care what anyone else says.

"He's played in Malaysia for a long time, he knows what's expected and gets the job done. I've got all the faith in Thiago," he remarked.

But most importantly for him, he wants to help the side win the Malaysia Cup, in order to repay the belief shown by Sathianathan in him. If they succeed, it would be the Fighters' first ever major title since they entered Malaysia's top three divisions back in 2007.

"(It would mean) Everything. It was the objective coming here; to get in the top four and win the cup.

"I think I can definitely help the team and I want to repay the coach for all he's done for me this year, by winning the cup," explained Ferns.

The first leg will be played at the Tun Abdul Razak Stadium, Jengka this Sunday, while the return fixture will take place next Saturday. The two sides have met twice this season, both in the Super League, with the match in Jengka ending in a 1-1 draw and the clash in Alor Star won by the visitors 3-1.

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