Sabah’s search for foreign players begins
Sabah began their search for foreign players in prepara on for the Malaysian League 2019.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah began their search for foreign players in preparation for the Malaysian League 2019.
Three hopefuls including former Rhinos Heo Jaenyeong, 26, were scheduled to take part in the trials at the Likas Stadium last night.
The South Korean defensive midfielder joined Sabah in the middle of the 2017 campaign but his contract was not extended due to injury concerns midway into the 2018 season.
The other two foreign candidates are defender Kelal Ogal Kaoga of Kenya and Patrick Elamenji of England, who can operate as a central defender and defensive midfielder.
Head coach Jelius Ating when contacted yesterday revealed that several foreign footballers were also expected to try their luck with the team.
"We must be very careful when it comes to selecting the foreign players...we must make sure that our selection will be for the good of the team.
"We are looking for players to fill in defence, midfield and up front... that is what the team need and it will be our top priority," he said.
Serbian forward Rodoljub Paunovic remains with the Rhinos as he has a contract until the middle of next year.
Towards this end, Jelius said the existing members of the Rhinos would train until weekend before getting some time off for the Christmas celebration.
Meanwhile, reprsentatives from the Malaysian Football League (MFL), which operates and manages the Super League and Premier League among other entities, conducted a briefing for Sabah Football Association (Safa) on the Malaysian League 2019.
Led by its Chief Operations Officer Mohd Shazli Shaik Mohd, the briefing included the competition rules and regulations, media roles and functions of MFL.
According to him, the briefing which was done for each state was among the new approaches introduced by MFL to provide a clearer and detailed information to associations or clubs for the betterment of football in the country.
"Previously the briefing was attended by representatives from associations or clubs in Peninsular Malaysia," he said.
Among those present were Andrew Laban representing Safa supreme council member, secretary general Andrew Majanggim, the Rhinos team manager Henry Saimpon, Jelius, assistant coach Burhan Ajui, general coordinators Jellysius Saimpon and Michael Gantali.
The officers from MFL, formerly known as the Football Malaysia Limited Liabity Partnership (FMLLP), also conducted a check on Sabah preferred home venue at the Likas Stadium.