Newly promoted Terengganu FC 1 have got their Korean replacement for the injured Kim Hyun-woo who is out long-term with ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury but the Turtles will keep him under wraps for their opening match against PKNS FC on Feb 3.
The new signing is 29-year-old Park Seung-Il whose last club was K-League Challenge side FC Anyang.
Terengganu head coach Irfan Bakti said Park is “not fully fit” and will not feature for the team in the first two or three games.
“I am not worried about not having Park for the PKNS match or the next two or three matches. The team is in place and those picked will be able to deliver,” said Irfan from his family home in Shah Alam on Sunday.
“Park is short on fitness and needs some polishing to gel with the rest of the team. However, I see him as an asset to the team. Give him some time and he will blend well with the rest.”
Terengganu play a club side from Kelantan in their final in Kuala Terengganu on Monday before facing PKNS at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium.
For their pre-season preparations the Turtles went on a three-match playing tour of Cambodia and also played in a quadrangular which they won. The other three teams in the quadrangular were Terengganu FC II (formerly T-Team), Pahang and Malacca United.
The Turtles won all their matches – defeating Pahang 4-2, Malacca United 5-0 before wrapping it up with a 4-2 win over Terengganu FC II. The Menteri Besar’s Trophy came with a RM50,000 prize money for the champions.
For the new season Irfan has set a high top-three target in the Super League and to win at least one of the two Cups (Malaysia Cup and the FA Cup) – which he believes is within reach of the Turtles.
In last year’s FA Cup, Terengganu, despite playing in the Premier League did well to reach the FA Cup semi-finals before bowing out to eventual champions Kedah. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
