Sabah aim to turn tables on Kedah
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah are aiming to create an upset when they face Kedah in the Youth Cup League quarterfinal match at the Jitra Mini Stadium on Sunday.
The team will be working hard to improve their performance before the game. They also face the same opponent in the return leg match at the Penampang Stadium on August 9.
Qualifying from a second spot finish in the Group A challenge, Sabah now turn their focus on clearing the hurdle to try and make it farther in the tournament.
Assistant team manager Lokman Sunggim said the team must focus on improving the quality of their game to ensure better chances of winning.
He knows his side faces an uphill climb in this knock-out stage of the competition. He is also aware of the challenge Kedah bring to the game with the likes of national players Akhyar Rashid on their side.
“We’ve anticipated the stiff rivalry in this match but we believe the players are ready to take on the challenge with passion and enthusiasm,” he said when met here yesterday.
Lokman believes that the players have enough talent to defeat any opponent and that they are motivated enough to go even further in the tournament.
They came a long way from last year’s achievements. Sabah failed to reach the quarterfinal in 2017, but this season’s showings brought redemption.
Lokman’s side booked an early ticket to the quarterfinal thanks to some good performances both at home and away.
According to him, the team had targeted a quarterfinal appearance since the start of the season, which later saw steady improvement with every game.
And with the team in their current form, Lokman seems unperturbed by much else than the fact that the two matches with Kedah are set apart by only four days.
However, he is confident that head coach Mohd Aiyyman Abdullah can formulate a strategy to ensure victory.
Towards this end, Lokman said the management would take steps to ensure that the team continue their momentum for more success.
“The momentum is very good now and we need to make sure it continues like this so we can realise our hopes for the team,” he said.