Junior Tambadaus back in action against Pahang
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Under-21 side will take on Pahang in Group A of the President Cup tie starting at 4:15pm at the UMS Stadium today.
The match will be the Junior Tambadaus first match of the new campaign after their original season opener against Perlis last Thursday was cancelled.
And head coach Justin Ganai hoped the extra days of preparation would do them good against Pahang, who won 1-0 against the Armed Forces FC in their opening game.
“I hope the hard works and efforts done from start and until now in our preparation will lead the players to giving good performances and eventually produce a victory tomorrow (today),” said Justin yesterday.
Meanwhile, Justin is set to start Joslan Aping as his first choice goalkeeper and backed by a fourman defence of Gerald Gadit, Mohd Izzat Aziz, Kelvin Pengiran and Mohd Hasrul Nizam Roslan.
In midfield, highly rated Mohd Syukri Baharun will be deplyed as the deep-lying playmaker with Mohd Aidil Safee and Faizulnizam Aziz just ahead of him while Suhaizan Nazmie Etin and Zulkifly Harun providing the width.
Muhd Faqhrurazi Ahmad will be the team strike-in-chief.
Also included in the match day squad are substitues Muhd Syazwien Sapawi, Eddey Ladius, Owen Piou @ Piyou, Erick Odo, Mohd Hizaz Lokman, Hilarion Andrew and Muhd Syahmil Nizal Iqbal.
For the record, Group A of the President Cup is contested by 10 teams after the Malaysian Football League (MFL) cancelled Perlis participation in the Malaysian League 2019.