Mission accomplished for Rhinos
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's 2-1 win over Negeri Sembilan at the Likas Stadium helped maintain their seventh spot position as the curtain dropped on the Premier League season two days ago.
Team manager Datuk Juil Nuatim said the team worked hard to win the match and that finding their rhythm after a lengthy break was not an easy task.
“Maintaining their position in the standings was a priority but more importantly was the way the players rose to the challenge despite having been on a onemonth break with no real warmup.
“It was not easy (for the team) to find form after such a long break and Negeri Sembilan were no pushovers. They were higher in the standings with 10 points more than us and all our encounters with them this season ended in their favour.
“But yet we managed to defeat them,” Juil said, when met shortly after the match.
He said the players performed well, showing strong commitment which reflects sharply on the mentality they possessed to win the match.
For the record, the Rhinos lost 3-0 to Negeri Sembilan in the first round Premier League match at the Paroi stadium on January 20.
This was followed by another defeat in the FA Cup quarter-final. Sabah lost 1-0 at the Likas Stadium on April 1 before eventually being knocked out after a scoreless draw in the second leg at the Paroi Stadium on April 21.
“Tonight was our fourth clash with them and as I said before this, it would be great to conclude the season on a high note.
“So, congratulations to everyone for winning it especially the players and coaching staff led by (head coach) Jelius Ating,” Juil said.
In the Friday night match, the Rhinos led 2-0 at the break thanks to foreign import Rodoljub Paunovic's successive strikes in the 39th and 41st minutes.
The goals were nearly identical with Maxsius Musa delivering from the right as Paunovic pounced with an unstoppable header and easy tap-in from point blank range.
Negeri Sembilan pulled one back to make it 2-1 after the game resumed with Muhammad Fauzan Fauzi taking credit for the opening minute stunner.
But the Rhinos reacted swiftly by regaining rhythm and closed off any potential threats from the visiting side. They held their lines and maintained the advantage until the final whistle.
Sabah could have made it 31 when the referee awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute. But Azizan Nordin failed to convert from the spot.
Meanwhile, Juil described the season as successful despite finishing below mid-table.
“Our primary objective when we came in midway through the season was to salvage the season and prevent Sabah from being relegated.
“We accomplished that mission sooner than anybody expected. After that we began preparing for next season's challenge. Now, I believe the team is on the right track.
“There are improvements to be made and players to be roped in but at least we have a solid base...we do not have to start from scratch to face next year's challenge, unlike previously,” Juil said.
From 22 league matches, Sabah finished seventh in the 12-team standings on 30 points from nine wins, three draws and 10 defeats.
Juil and Jelius took over as team manager and head coach respectively after Adlane Messelem and Steve Vilmiaire failed to bring Sabah forward.
At the time of take-over, the Rhinos were dangling with relegation danger after only one win and one draw from eight matches.