Jelius looking for ‘qualities’ that can help Rhinos
KOTA KINABALU: Head coach Jelius Ating is still looking for suitable candidates to fill in the foreign imports quota with the Rhinos.
He said the five hopefuls currently trying their luck had yet to really impress him after two days of trials at the Likas Stadium.
As such Jelius hopes to evaluate more foreign players who are expected to arrive here for the trials soon.
“I’m looking for that special qualities from them but they have yet to show me that...I’m not convinced.
“We will give them the opportunity to prove themselves,” he said at the end of the second day of trials on Wednesday night.
Defenders Kelal Ogal Kaoga of Kenya and Patrick Elamenji of England as well as former Rhinos midfielder Heo Jaenyeong of South Korea were the earliest to take part in the trials.
They were then joined by striker Lee Hyo Kyun and defender Ko Kyungjoon, both of South Korea.
It is, however, learnt that Kaoga has been told he could look for a team elsewhere after failing to impress.
“We have our own criteria or standards when it comes to selecting players and as I’ve said, we need a player who can help the team,” he said.
On Heo, the head coach claimed the defensive midfielder had yet to fully recover from the injury that led to his contract not being extended midway into the 2018 Premier League campaign.
“We know Heo’s qualities from his previous stint with Sabah but it seems that he is still troubled by the leg injury.
“He did well for us previously but we don’t select a player based on past reputation. Any player hoping to don the state colours must first prove themselves,” he stressed.
Having said that, Jelius reiterated that the priority was to look for a defender, a midfielder and a striker.
“I was informed that more (foreign players) are expected to come and they include those whom we have invited but have yet to come due to the festive season.
“Hopefully, we will be able to fine suitable candidates for the foreign imports quota and help establish Sabah as one of the better teams in the Malaysian League 2019,” he said.
Meanwhile, the son of former Sabah’s favourite foreign import Scott Ollerenshaw of Australia, Jordan, is also participating in the selection trials.
Jelius, however, thinks that Jordan is not yet ready for the senior team.
“Jordan has the potential to go far but for now he is not ready for the senior team...we may try him out with the President Cup (under-21) squad,” he said of Jordan who trained at the Ong Kim Swee’s national under-21 training squad recently but missed out on a place in the final squad.
The 20-year-old, who can either play as an attacking midfielder or striker, is a product of the Cruizero Brazil Academy based in Phuket, Thailand and had stint with Spanish regional side Torrent CF.
Also present at the team’s trials were Sabah Football Association (Safa) supreme council member Andrew Laban, secretary general Andrew Majanggim and the Rhinos team manager Henry Saimpon.
The training-cum-selection trials will continue until Saturday before the players take a break in conjucntion with the Christmas celebration.