THE pre-season friendly between Penang FC and Imigresen FC at the Batu Kawan Stadium this evening proved to be an engaging affair, with Penang FC emerging victorious with a narrow 1-0 win.
Hundreds of passionate fans from both sides filled the stands to support their teams, creating an energetic atmosphere throughout the match.
Despite missing several clear scoring opportunities, Penang FC managed to secure the win with a solitary goal, giving them a boost of confidence ahead of the upcoming Malaysia Super League season.
Speaking on the sidelines after the match, Penang FC head coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail said the result offered both encouragement and a timely reality check as the team prepares for the season opener on August 10.
“For today’s pre-season match, I would say overall, my players performed below their true potential.
“I’m not entirely sure why, but perhaps the scorching heat this evening played a part in affecting their performance.
“However, when the new Super League season begins, our matches will also be played in the afternoon under similar conditions.
“Thus, the players must learn to adapt and still deliver their best, especially considering today was our final pre-season game before the season kicks off,” he explained.
Wan Rohaimi added that the coming week will be spent fine-tuning the team and addressing any issues to ensure they are fully prepared for the league.
“As of now, we are not expecting any new player signings. We are on the right track leading up to today’s match.
“Next, I will conduct a post-mortem session with the players to identify the exact factors that held them back from delivering a better performance.
“Based on today’s showing, I would say this was our weakest performance compared to our previous five pre-season games.
“But it’s a good thing that it happened now. These pre-season matches have given us the chance to pinpoint weaknesses, refine our strategies, and get ready for the challenges of the long season ahead.
“With about 10 days remaining before our first match, we’ll use the time wisely to improve and strengthen the team,” he explained.
Wan Rohaimi also noted that overall, based on the six pre-season matches played so far, the team is close to being ready for the season opener.
Penang FC will begin their 2025/2026 Super League campaign against Terengganu FC on August 10.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud