State footballers make it to Sukma q-finals
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah are through to the quarter-finals of the 19th Malaysia Games (Sukma) football competition.
The state juniors were held 1-1 by Penang, but it was all they needed to qualify as the Group C table toppers.
Flanker Ariusdius Jais was decisive yet again when he picked up a pass inside the box before sending an unstoppable shot on the turn to give Sabah the lead in the 74th minute.
It was Ariusdius’ third goal in two matches.
Head coach Johnny Dominicus made some tactical changes to great effect and despite conceding an injury time equaliser from Penang’s Muhammad Azrie Reza Zamri, it did not matter as Sabah erupted with celebration at the final whistle at the Parit Buntar synthetic pitch.
Sabah, Malacca and Penang ended the group all equal on two points, but Sabah and Malacca advanced via greater goal counts.
“It was a great relief for all of us... we are in the quarter-finals and that is all that matters,” said a jovial Johnny after the game.
“I have only praises for all the players who played their hearts out to get the desired result. It was a tough group and the fact that none of the teams won and got only draws said it all.
“It was a do-or-die game and I’m glad we got our tactics right in the game,” he added.
Johhny went on to say that the focus now would be the quarterfinal tie against Pahang today.
“The competition has just got tougher and we must improve and be at our best.
“My only concern now is our players who are injured... hopefully they will be enough time for them to recover and get ready for the quarter-finals.
“We need to be at our best and that is why we need all the players available.
“We will try our best,” said Johnny, who was in charge when Sabah won Sukma gold in 2012 in Pahang.
Team manager Benedict Asmat, on the other hand, believed that Sabah were on track in its gold quest after getting past the first hurdle.
“To get into the quarter-finals as the group winners should be a good motivation for our players.
“I want to thank them and the coaches for giving their best in the group and getting Sabah to this stage of the competition.
“We are on the right track to achieve our target. However, we must focus on our quarter-final match before anything else.
“We need to be ready (despite the short rest between matches),” he said.
Having said that, Benedict expressed high hopes that the change of venue would benefit Sabah in the last eight as Sabah had to adapt to playing on a synthetic pitch in the group stages after being used to playing on natural grass surface beforehand.
“The quarter-finals will be played on grass surface and this suits us well...we will take full advantage,” he added.
Meanwhile, striker Hamran Peter and national under-19 defender Gerald Gadit were expected to start the quarter-final fixtures.
Both missed the Penang game through injury for Hamran and jet lag for Gerald who had just joined the team after playing for the national junior in an international friendly in Oman.
The quarter-final match between Sabah and Pahang, who are Group D runners-up, will be played at the TLDM Stadium in Lumut at 4.15pm today.