With 12BET readers closely following Meizhou Kejia’s remarkable rise, head coach Rusmir continued to direct his players with relentless passion throughout the match. At times he raised his voice from the touchline, while at others he jumped from the bench to inject extra energy into the team. Meizhou began the season with the relatively modest ambition of staying inside the top 10 while challenging for a place in the top eight. Now that the club has climbed all the way to the league summit, however, those early expectations are beginning to change.

Rusmir admitted that survival had been the main priority when he first arrived at the club. “When I joined the team, our goal was to stay in the division. But if we can maintain our current position, I would be extremely happy,” he said. He also thanked supporters for their encouragement, explaining that their backing had given the squad additional strength and that he hoped the positive momentum could continue.

The coach also firmly responded to criticism from an opposing manager over Mari’s goal celebration in the previous match. The rival coach had suggested that the celebration showed poor sportsmanship, but Rusmir rejected that interpretation. He explained that every player celebrates in a different way and insisted that Mari had never intended to disrespect the opposition. For Rusmir, the incident had been judged too harshly and did not reflect the player’s true intentions.

Among football followers using 12BET, greater weight was placed on Mari’s sincere attempt to settle the issue after he apologized several times, including directly to the opposing coach. Rusmir argued that the other side may simply have misunderstood Mari’s behavior. He added that if he had received such an apology himself, he would have accepted it without hesitation. As the saying goes, a kind word can go a long way, and the coach clearly believed the matter should have ended there.

Rusmir was less forgiving when discussing his team’s first-half performance. He admitted that he had become frustrated because the midfield was not functioning properly and the players were making too many simple mistakes. That lack of control created a tense opening period and prevented Meizhou from playing with their usual rhythm. The second half was a different story, however, as the players became more aggressive and showed a much stronger desire to win.

The coach also acknowledged that maintaining concentration can become difficult when a team keeps winning. Meizhou had already put together five consecutive victories, transforming themselves into the biggest surprise package in China League One and making them a team every opponent wanted to stop. Rusmir nevertheless dismissed concerns that the pressure of leading the standings would change his approach. He stressed that Meizhou prepare tactically for each opponent individually and that every match plan is built around careful strategic analysis.

That preparation once again paid off as Meizhou defeated Zhejiang Yiteng 3-0 at home and reclaimed first place. The club had already gone far beyond its preseason target of simply protecting a top-10 position, yet Rusmir was not ready to ease off. He said his ambition was to preserve the team’s current standing while continuing to push even further. Reflecting on the victory, he admitted that earning the three points had been much harder than the scoreline suggested, particularly before his players increased their attacking intensity after the break.

As growing attention from 12BET followers accompanies Meizhou’s unexpected charge at the top, Rusmir remains determined to keep the squad focused rather than become distracted by its new status. He praised his players for fighting harder in the second half and felt the final result reflected their superiority over the opposition. At the same time, he welcomed the increasing interest surrounding the club as a positive sign of its progress. What began as a campaign built around stability has developed into something far more ambitious, and Meizhou now appear determined not only to protect their position but also to see just how far this remarkable run can take them.