New signings to bolster league challenge – Safa
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tambadaus have moved to sign Aguinaldo Mendes Veiga and Ahmet Atayew to bolstertheir challenge in second half of the Premier League campaign.
Former Angola's international striker Mendes, 30, and Turkmenistan's midfielder Atayew, 29, put pen to paper until the end of the season respectively on Monday, after both impressed during trials while also clearing their medical tests.
In confirming the latest development in the state senior squad, acting president of Sabah Football Association (Safa) Datuk Peter Anthony said the new signings would replace the Brazilian striker Luiz Carlos Junior and Serbian attacking midfielder Luka Milunovic.
Junior left the Tambadaus on mutual consent while Milunovic returned to his parent club Malacca United.
"Today (Monday) we have signed two new foreign players and we have high hopes that they would strengthen the squad especially in midfield and attack with their qualities.
"They have impressed us during trials and then passed without much problems during their medicals.
"Now our aim is to make sure they will be eligible for selections in our next league fixtures on May 17 where we will be away to UKM FC," Peter said.
Peter, when met during the team training at the Likas Stadium, also revealed that Serbian forward Rodoljub Paunovic's contract had been extended for another six months.
It was certainly a welcome news for the squad as the highly popular Paunovic, whose current contract runs until May 31, is Sabah's leading scorer with five goals while his work rates on the pitch have won many admirers among the home fans.
"Paunovic has proved himself to be an important member of the team...not only he is playing well by going all out in every match but he combines well with his teammates.
"That is why we have extended his contract...he deserves it.
"As for Mendes and Atayew, they will also be offered contract extension if they convinced us with their performance," he said.
For the record, Sabah's fourth foreign import is the South Korean central defender Park Tae Su.
Meanwhile, Peter believed that Sabah were on track in their bids to win promotion to the Super League next year.
The Tambadaus under head coach Jelius Ating are currently third in the 11-team league having collected 21 points from six wins, three draws and two losses and trail leaders Johor Darul Ta'azim II (JDT II) by three points and second placed UiTM FC by two points.
"Overall, I'm happy with the progress made by the team. We are in a good position in the league and now we must stay consistent and produce the desired results.
"If we can do that then I believe we will qualify for the Malaysia Cup and more importantly achieve our main target of winning promotion to the Super League next year," he said.