IPOH, Aug 17 — After five matches of doom and gloom, there may finally be a light at the end of the tunnel for Perak’s Super League campaign.
A run of five consecutive defeats was ended on Saturday, as Bos Gaurus earned a point from high-flyers Pahang after a 1-1 home draw.
Stand-in coach Abu Bakar Fadzim praised his players despite their recent trials and tribulations which saw coach M. Karathu “rested”.
“I feel this is a turning point. We have been stuck on 27 points for so long and finally we have managed to add to the total.
“It was a young team with only one import (centreback Thiago Junio de Aquino), but we showed our fighting spirit,” he said.
Perak showed remarkable strength to come from behind after a freekick by Mohd Hafiz Kamal silenced the home crowd.
However, a second half strike from Bobby Gonzales levelled the scores.
Abu Bakar said the team’s playing style had not changed.
“Our movement was good. We built up combinations between the midfield and the strikers and my gamble to play Mohd Norhakim Isa in the holding midfield role worked,” he said.
Perak were third at one stage until their winless run saw them drop to eighth.
With two matches to go against second-placed Johor Darul Takzim and third-placed Selangor, Perak face a punishing end to the season.
“It is important we identify our strengths and weakness as a team. After a few narrow losses, I feel we are gaining the spirit and self-belief.
“The momentum is building.”
