Sabah U-19 eye home win
Sabah will be gunning for their first home win when they host Penang in the Youth Cup League Group A match at the Penampang Stadium today.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will be gunning for their first home win when they host Penang in the Youth Cup League Group A match at the Penampang Stadium today.
The match, which will be kicking off at 4.15pm, is only the second home game for Sabah after playing six so far this season including five away matches.
Sabah managed to remain undefeated in all their away games with a record of three wins and two draws.
However, their home game last month against Sukan Sekolah Malaysia Pahang - Akademi Mokhtar Dahari Cougars (SSMPAMD Cougars Under-16) ended in a 4-0 thrashing.
For the match today, team manager Azman Mastar wants his Under-19 charges to do their best to change the home record.
“I hope we can improve our home record because our away performance is very good, we have yet to lose a match. The players do not have to feel pressured, they just need to play like normal and listen to the coach’s instruction.
“If they give their best efforts and follow the instructions from their coaches, I believe they can win the three points,” he said when contacted here yesterday.
According to Azman, there will be four President Cup players who will join to strengthen the squad for the match.
The Under-21 players are midfielder Kohd Syukri Baharun, defender Gerald Gadit, striker Mohd Hizaz Lokman and Mohd Syamil Nizam Igbal Khan, who had been with the squad in four of its previous matches.
Syukri, Gerald, Hizaz and Syamil along with goalkeeper Joslan Aping had been with the squad in three of its four consecutive away matches, which saw Sabah draw 1-1 with Perak PKNP FC, edge Selangor United FC 1-0 and beat Bukit Jalil Sports School Under-16 squad (SSBJ U16) 4-1.
However, in their last match against Pahang (which ended in a 1-1 draw) on Wednesday, only Hizaz and Syamil were available after Syukri, Gerald and Joslan were recalled for President Cup duty.
“With the extra players to choose from, I think the coach (Mohd Aiyyman Johnny Abdullah) can continue to come up with the best line up to try and get the points.
“It would be great to continue our undefeated run as it would help to maintain our position, which is third in the 11-team standings,” Azman said.
Sabah are currently third on 11 points, separated by only one point from Kuala Lumpur in the second spot, while Terengganu FC IV are still at the top on 17 points.
“We cannot afford to drop points tomorrow (today) because SSMP-AMD Cougars U16 and PKNS are only one point behind us, while our opponents Penang are only three adrift (from us),” Azman said.
After today’s game, Sabah will travel away to face Kuala Lumpur on April 15.