Sabah U-19 to face BJSS after break
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Under-19 squad are all geared up to return to action in the Youth Cup challenge when they take on Group A rivals Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Under-16 at the Penampang Stadium tomorrow.
The match will be the team’s first game following a onemonth break.
“Since our last game in May, the team has continued to train including during the fasting month.
“We will be taking on BJSS U-16 whom we defeated 4-1 in the first round when we resume our campaign.
“As the team manager, I believe we will be able to repeat the feat and claim victory at home,” said Azman Mastar in a text message yesterday.
The state juniors are currently occupying the last quarterfinal spot as the fourth placed team in the 10-team Group A, collecting 19 points from five wins, four draws and three losses.
Sabah have also played only 12 matches so far and thus, held the advantage with one game in hand over the top two, Terengganu FC IV (29 points) and PKNS FC (22 point), while having two matches in hand over third place PKNS FC (21 points).
With six matches to play, Azman believed Sabah could achieved its early target of finishing in the top four, thus cementing their place in the quarterfinals.
“I’m very confident with the team and that the players will be able to achive it (quarterfinal berth).
“This is because I have done a lot with the management to improve the team such as organising programmes to make the team sharper in front of the goal.
“The players learnt from the likes of state and country legends including Datuk James Wong, Datuk Hassan Sani and Matlan Marjan.
“Apart from that, others from the ex-state footballers asssociation such as Stanley Chew, Karti Tukimin, Yahya Datuk Kassim, Aman Omar Khan, Dingka Otoh, Azah Ezrein, Datuk Dzulfikar Ahmad, Malim Surat too have given support through their attendance in our matches,” he said.
Azman went on to say that the ex-state footballers association, which he was the deputy president of, should provide motivation to the junior footballers to double their efforts and improve for the betterment of the squad as well as football development in the state.
For the record, the association had collaborated with the Takad Nabalu Association to organise an under-21 competition as well as football clinics at various districts.
“I hope through our approach, we can help develop our youngsters,” he added.