PETALING JAYA, Jan 13 — Defending Malaysia Cup champion Pahang not only hope to retain the cup but also add the Super League title to their trophy cabinet next season.

Pahang Football Association President Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah said he was confident that the target would be achievable since a number of talented new players have joined the team together with Zeshan Rehman from Pakistan and former Kelantan striker Dickson Nwakaeme from Nigeria.

Tengku Abdul Rahman who received a sponsorship pledge from Puma before being introduced to the players here today said the unpredictable and unfavourable weather in the East Coast had affected their preparations for the new season.

Through the sponsorship pledge, Puma would provide apparel to the team worth RM1 million a year, for a three-year period.

Meanwhile, Pahang's newly-appointed head coach, Ronald Smith was confident of achieving the target as he had gone through the same process when taking charge of Sabah in 1995 after the team had emerged as the runner-up of the FA Cup in 1993 and 1994.

 “With the discipline and the passion that the Pahang players have, I think the target should be achieved,” said the 64-year old Australian who had previously coached another local outfit, Johor FC from 1998 to 1999.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Technical Director from 1999-2002 also believes Pahang would be successful this season despite losing their influential midfielder, Amirulhadi Zainal who joined moneybags, Johor Darul Takzim (JDT).

Pahang's 2014 squad:

Mohd Khairul Azhan Mohd Khalid, Mohd Nasril Mat Nourdin, Jalaluddin Jaafar,

Mohd Saifulnizam Miswan, Damion Delano Stewart, Zeshan Rehman, R. Surendren,

Azidan Sarudin, Matias Ruben Conti, Dickson Nwakaeme, Mohd Faizol Hussain,

Azamuddin Mohd Akil, Mohd Razman Roslan, Mohd Faizal Mohd Rosli, Abdul Malik Mat

Ariff, Mohd Hazri Rozali, Mohd Zaiza Zainal Abidin, Muhammad Syawal Norsam, Mohd

Fauzi Rozlan, Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Salleh, Mohd Hafiz Kamal, Muhammad Saufi Mohd,

R. Gopinathan, Mohd Shafie Zahari. — Bernama