Return of several main players give Sabah needed boost
The return of several main players gives Sabah Tambadau a much-needed boost for their Premier League match against UKM FC at the Likas Stadium tomorrow night.
KOTA KINABALU: The return of several main players gives Sabah Tambadau a much-needed boost for their Premier League match against UKM FC at the Likas Stadium tomorrow night.
Team manager Henry Saimpon said Maxsius Musa is still doubtful but skipper Rawilson Batuil and Mohd Azizan Nordin are back after serving a onematch suspension from picking up three yellow cards.
Ricco Nigel Milus, who had previously sat out due to injury, is also back to training and is expected to feature in the lineup.
“We have lost Sabri (Sahar) for the whole season after injuring his knee, while Maxsius is out for four weeks due to a hamstring injury.
“But our effort to get the team back to winning ways has hit a positive note on the return of Rawilson, Azizan and Ricco,” Henry said when contacted, yesterday.
He said having them on the bench would give the squad some options as they set sights on the points.
Henry said all players including the four imports were ready for the match.
And the words from Sabah Football Association acting president Datuk Peter Anthony that shirkers would be dealt with, serves as a stern warning for them not to take things lightly.
He said players could face the axe if the team failed to win again and that replacements would be brought in during the transfer window from May 2-29.
Peter issued the warning after Sabah failed in three consecutive attempts to win matches beginning with their 1-0 defeat to third tier club side Kelantan United FC, 2-1 defeat to Selangor United in a previous league match and the 1-1 draw with UiTM FC at the Likas Stadium, recently.
“We take the warning as an incentive to do right by it and it was rightly issued especially considering our place in the standings where we are in the battle for top spot,” said Henry.
“Only victory will suffice if we want to remain in the top three at the end of this first round of the season. This will be our focus to try and keep ourselves on track of achieving target of Super League promotion,” he added.