Rhinos to open M’sia Cup campaign against Pahang
Team manager Datuk Juil Nua m said Sabah must not feel inferior to rival teams as they looked to make an impact on their return to the Malaysia Cup compe on.
KOTA KINABALU: Team manager Datuk Juil Nuatim said Sabah must not feel inferior to rival teams as they looked to make an impact on their return to the Malaysia Cup competition.
The Rhinos ended a six-year wait to compete in the prestigious tournament starting this weekend, booking their berth on merit as the top five teams in the Premier League.
However, Sabah are also the lowest ranked side among the participating teams from the Super League and Premier League combined, although Juil is not reading too much into that.
“We have high hopes despite being among the last few teams to qualify for the Malaysia Cup, it was narrowly (achieved) but we continue to believe,” he said during the team’s training here on Monday.
Juil went on to say Sabah would have no problem carrying the underdog tag as he believed the achievement of qualifying for the tournament after a long absence could just be the telling factor to inspire the team to perform well beyond their best.
“There is a difference between competing in a league and in cup competition...the enthusiasm and spirit tend to change.
“What more when we have not played for six years. May be our spirit will be greater and stronger than our rival teams.
“The Malaysia Cup is the most prestigious tournament in the country and players tend to double their efforts and give their best in the competition.
“Hopefully, our players will be inspired by qualifying for the Malaysia Cup,” he added.
Sabah have been drawn in Group D where they will play against Super League sides Selangor, Pahang and PKNP FC.
On paper, 2018 FA Cup champions Pahang and runnersup Selangor are the favoured teams to advance into the quarterfinals but Juil believed Sabah too have every chance to fight for the two top spot.
Juil cited the FA Cup battle against Johor Darul Takzim in which the Rhinos stretched the opponent to the limit before losing a good example of Sabah’s true ability.
“It is not an impossible task for us in a group that contains Pahang, Selangor and PKNP. What we can promise is that we will go out there to give a good fight and show that we are no pushovers.
“Although we are the underdogs, it will not stop us from giving our utmost best,” he added.
Meanwhile, Juil revealed his personal target was for the Rhinos to get into the quarterfinals.
“The teams we will face are strong but we will try to get into the last eight.
“We are not thinking beyond that but if we have the luck and the players show their fullest commitment, who knows we may get to the semifinals or final.
“I must stress that the top priority now is to make the best efforts to face the group fixtures... that’s the most important thing now,” he said.
The Rhinos will open their Malaysia Cup campaign in Group D away to Pahang at the Darul Makmur Stadium on August 4.