Man of the Match says team spirit was deciding factor

Zhafri and Bodak celebrate after KL City lifted the Malaysia Cup with a 2-0 victory over hot favourites Johor DT. – Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): Zhafri Yahya, Malaysia Cup 2021 final’s Man of the Match, has described winning the most prestigious trophy in Malaysian football with Kuala Lumpur City FC as the greatest success in his career so far.

“I have been with Kuala Lumpur for six years, this is the highest achievement I have had and I am really grateful to the coach (Bojan Hodak) because he identified the position that I like.

“Tonight I may have missed two chances but in the end I got one that I really did not want to let go. The first goal gave encouragement to the team and being the underdogs we tried to focus for 90 minutes not to lose to JDT,” he said in the post-match interview on Tuesday night.

Zhafri, who hails from Klang in Selangor, has been with KL City since he was loaned out from Selangor six seasons ago, which saw the City Boys go through a see-saw period of promotion to and relegation from the Super League.

His goal in the 66th minute broke the deadlock in the 100th final of Malaysia’s oldest football tournament before team captain Paulo Josue doubled the lead in the 74th minute to create a glorious night and end a 32-year wait for KL supporters to capture the coveted trophy.

The 27-year old winger also echoed coach Bodak’s view when he singled out the family spirit among the players and team officials as KL City’s strength.

“From the management, players, seniors and juniors, all are indeed of ‘one heart’. We are really like a family, we not only listen to the instructions of the coaches but from the senior players as well. We try to analyse matches and how to play against the next opponent,” he said.

Zhafri confirmed that he will remain with KL City next season. – Bernama

from Borneo Post Online https://bit.ly/3GaDMnD
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