Rhinos gear up against incen ve-fueled Perak
Team manager Datuk Juil Nua m urged Sabah players to give their full focus when they face Perak in the first leg semi-final match of the Malaysia Cup at the Perak Stadium tomorrow.
KOTA KINABALU: Team manager Datuk Juil Nuatim urged Sabah players to give their full focus when they face Perak in the first leg semi-final match of the Malaysia Cup at the Perak Stadium tomorrow.
“Once on the pitch, all focus should be on the task at hand. Do not think of anything else. We know that the Perak government announced a RM15,000 bonus to each player if they reach the final.
“Such an incentive is sure to give a huge boost to their spirits and we hope the state government can follow suit with the same offer for our boys if financial standings permit.
“But we do not want the incentive to be the main issue because our task is to win the match,” Juil said when met by reporters during the team’s training session at the sports complex in Likas here yesterday.
He urged Sabah players to be mindful of their duty, regardless of if there is special incentive from the state government.
“I want the players to focus, be spirited and play with full confidence. An incentive is not everything, victory is more important,” Juil said.
An incentive from the state government is all they (Sabah players) can hope for because the Sabah Football Association under its current financial situation was incapable of offering such incentive, he lamented.
“Safa’s financial situation is not so good right now and therefore, they cannot afford to offer such incentives. And this is why we, the officials, have to chip in to provide some kind of bonus reward for the players,” he stressed.
Towards this end, Juil hoped that the incentive issue would not cloud the players’ minds when they go all out for victory in the match tomorrow.
“It will not be an easy task because Perak is quite a superior team and they have been injected with incentives. They will also have strong home crowd support.
“I hope we will have some Sabah fans there too to lift the players’ spirits. Therefore, I urge all Sabahans in the Peninsular, especially in the Klang Valley, to turn up and give support to the team.
“We will do our best to get a positive result. If we succeed, it will be an advantage for us in the second leg match at the Likas Stadium on October 21.
“But if we cannot win, then a draw I think will be good enough,” Juil said.