Kedah will be without the services of defensive duo Rizal Ghazali and Renan Alves for the Malaysia Cup final this Saturday against Johor Darul Ta'zim due to suspension.
Both players collected two yellow cards over the four matches Kedah played in the knockout stage against PKNP FC in the quarterfinals and Pahang in the semi-finals.
It's a big blow for Aidil Sharin and his hopes of clinching a second cup triumph in his very first season in charge of a Malaysian team after winning the FA Cup earlier in the season against Perak.
Right back Rizal is an ever-present member of Kedah's defence while Brazilian Renan has formed a formidable centre back partnership alongside Shakir Hamzah.
Ironically for Renan, his card accumulation also forced him to sit out of the aforementioned FA Cup final but Kedah still managed to get a win that secures their ticket to the AFC Champions League playoff next year.
Then in Renan's absence, Aidil opted for the left field solution in midfielder Amirul Hisyam slotting in defence and the former Malaysia U23 international repaid his coach's faith with a superb performance in the final.
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