KANBAWZA gave new head coach U Than Htike the perfect start to life in the Myanmar National League, with Kyaw Thiha’s second-half strike enough to secure three points against Zayar Shwe Myay at Thuwanna Stadium on October 28.
U Than Htike replaced U Aye Maung Gyi earlier in the week following Kanbawza’s shock 4-3 loss to bottom of the table Southern Myanmar on October 24.
However, the Sagaing-based Zayar Shwe Myay could consider themselves extremely unlucky not to have taken at least a point from a match they dominated for long periods.
“My team had about 75 percent of possession in this match and we had eight real chances to score goals but they could not take those chances. For us, it was a bad game,” Zayar Shwe Myay’s head coach, Mr Stefan Hansson, said at the post-match press conference.
U Than Htike agreed his side won largely because of Zayar Shwe Myay’s profligacy in front of goal.
Zayar Shwe Myay will also feel aggrieved at Kyaw Thiha’s 52nd-minute winner, conceded after goalkeeper Tin Yu slipped while saving a long shot from midfielder Nay Zaw Htet, allowing the Kanbawza striker to stroke the ball home.
It was one of Kanbawza’s few chances in the game. In his second match back from injury, captain Soe Myat Min had a good opportunity to open the scoring in the 30th minute but Tin Yu saved his goal-bound header.
However, Soe Myat Min and Kyaw Thiha could not work well together and the Kanbawza captain was replaced with Sa Htet Naing Win after 55 minutes.
“I have returned to full fitness but I still haven’t been able to produce my best performances yet,” Soe Myat Min said afterwards.
Zayar Shwe Myay had the first chance of the match when Ye Wai Yan Soe found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Ya Wai Zin. However, he could only watch as his shot rebounded back off the upright.
In the second half, the striker dribbled past a host of Kanbawza defenders and again found himself with just the keeper to beat. Once again, his shot came back off the post.
Yazar Win Thein, who is rumoured to be seeking a move away from Zayar Shwe Myay, put in a poor performance and didn’t seem particularly interested.
“I can’t comment on this rumour because I don’t know exactly about his case,” Mr Hansson said.
