Rhinos show improved game in 4-1 win over President Cup squad
KOTA KINABALU: A 4-1 win in their friendly match with the President Cup squad here yesterday is hardly anything to shout about.
But newly appointed Rhinos team manager Datuk Juil Nuatim said his charges are showing progress despite being under his and new head coach Jelius Ating’s charge for less than a week.
He said they would take the progress as a positive indicator of good things to come.
“As predicted, rebuilding a team in such a short time span is no easy task. You need to work on training and mentality as well as spirit and confidence.
“Whatever it is, the atmosphere in the camp is good...there is positive development from all aspects, in terms of spirit, confidence, mentality and performance. That is why I believe that Jelius can do something to help turn this team around,” Juil said when met after the friendly match at the Likas Stadium here two days ago.
The 4-1 win reflected good improvement from the 3-1 defeat from an earlier friendly match against the the same President Cup squad.
And it was notched with only one foreign import player, namely Masaya Jitozono from Japan. As it was, Sofiane Choubani and Igor Cerina were still on holiday during this MLeague break, while Jonathan Behe was still recovering from injury.
“I hope those who are injured and not currently with the team would return to full training on Monday because we must prepare to face Negeri Sembilan in the first leg quarter-final match of the FA Cup on April 1.
“There is not much time but I believe the team will become better because we, Jelius and the players are working hard,” Juil said.
He hoped everyone would stand behind them to support the team and give Jelius a chance to show what he can do.
Meanwhile, Jelius also believed the team would improve but said that it would ultimately depend on the players themselves to achieve it.
“I don’t have any magic wand to suddenly transform the team but I will do my best and I hope the players will also do the same... they must also work hard.
“There is plenty to be done but I will try my best and I am happy to note that there is already some progress. It has not been a week yet but the players seem to be able to accept the changes that I want to implement,” he said while hoping for the best in the match against Negeri at the Likas Stadium next week.
For the record, Jelius was brought in from the Youth Squad on Monday to replace French coach Steve Vilmiaire following a poor run of form in the Premier League.
The Rhinos are currently on four points from eight matches and are languishing just one spot off the bottom of the 12team standings.
After that they will resume their league quest against second spot Terengganu in an away match on April 7, before hosting Kuantan FA at the Likas Stadium a week later.
They face Negeri again in the return leg FA Cup quarterfinal match on April 21 before concluding their first round league fixtures against Police at the Likas Stadium on April 25.