KUCHING: Samarahan FA’s relentless fight was rewarded as they squeezed past Serian FA 1-0 in a tense second-leg semi-final of the Sarawak Premier League at the Sarawak Stadium on Saturday (Jan 31).
The winning goal was scored in the 51st minute by experienced defender, Razziman Razali, who struck a powerful long-range shot from nearly 30 metres to send Samarahan into the final.
Samarahan Division Football Association (PBBS) President, Mohd Azri Johari, praised the players’ discipline and hard work, saying the win was the result of a strong team effort.
“Today’s win came from the players’ sweat, discipline and effort. However, we must not get ahead of ourselves as an even bigger challenge awaits us in the final,” he said.
Azri added that Samarahan are ready to compete regardless of where the final is held, noting that the team has proven they can perform well away from home.
Head coach Ideris Untong described the match as a fiercely contested encounter, with Serian pushing hard until the final whistle.
“Alhamdulillah, the win was granted to us. Serian gave us very strong resistance and fought all the way,” he told Sarawak Tribune post-match.
Ideris said the hot conditions and early pressure disrupted Samarahan in the first half, but the team recovered after the break and played better in the second half.
He also expressed concern over the availability of several regular players for the final after they picked up yellow cards during the match.
“There is a possibility that two or three regular players may not be available for the final due to bookings,” he said.
Despite the loss, Ideris praised Serian FA, describing them as one of the toughest teams Samarahan faced in the competition.
