Newly-appointed Coach Vows To Keep JDT On Winning Ways

         Newly-appointed Coach Vows To Keep JDT On Winning Ways - Don’t bet on a Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) let-up.

Newly-appointed coach Ben­jamin Mora has promised to keep JDT on the winning trail again, starting with today’s M-League curtain-raiser Charity Shield match against Kedah at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Baru.

The match also doubles up as a Super League match.

“I want to start on a winning note ... win the Charity Shield and get the three points,” said Mexican Mora, who replaced Argentine Mario Gomez on Wednesday.

Under Gomez’s two-year stint, JDT were winners of the 2015 and 2016 Super League. They also won the AFC Cup in 2015 and the FA Cup in 2016.

The 51-year-old Mora, the former head coach of Premier League side JDT II, said he would like to continue the legacy left behind by Gomez.

“Gomez left behind a champion team. I want to continue building on the team’s success,” added Mora.

Despite having only trained his players for two days, Mora remained upbeat.

“There will be no major changes in team tactics. These players have won many battles before. That’s why they are champions,” he said.

The only difference for JDT this season is that they will be without Argentine hotshots Jorge Diaz and Juan Lucero. The duo scored 47 goals between them but their contracts were not renewed for the new season.

But the Southern Tigers have replaced them with three more Argentines – Jeronimo Barrales, Gonzalo Cabrera and Brian Ferreira. And they have retained Brazilian centreback Marcos Antonio.

Kedah assistant coach Mohd Nidzam Adzha said it would be a folly to underestimate JDT.

“It will be a big mistake to think JDT will be affected by the current affairs (of Mario’s departure). All we know is that Diaz and Lucero have left the team. But they have brought in new replacements and we do not have any knowledge about these players. And JDT also have some new strong local players too,” said Nidzam.

The Red Eagles, who won the Malaysia Cup last season, will be counting on their new signings to end JDT’s unbeaten record of 33 matches at home.

They have signed Australian defender Zachary Anderson and Danish striker Ken Larsen. Kedah also retained Kosovan playmaker Liridon Krasniqi and re-signed Brazilian midfielder Sandro da Silva.