Emotional victory for Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah had to dig deep to triumph over Kelantan before bringing back the Agong’s Cup after two years and it was the close knit comradeship in the team that saw them pull through.
Sabah defeated Kelantan in a close battle coming from the jaw of defeat to edge Kelantan 47-45 at the National Defence University of Malaysia (NDUM) Stadium in Sungei Besi on Sunday.
While it was a team effort which earned Sabah the victory, the triumph was an emotional one for captain Charles Luke McAlister (former All Blacks player), vice-captain Nathanael Tan (national player) and fly half substitute Serupepeli Naqasima (Fijian import).
Luke, besides bringing vast experience to the team, helped Sabah fight back by contributing to the score when Kelantan led 10-7 early in the game.
The former All Blacks star scored two penalties in the 29th and 35th minutes. He also added a conversion after Helbarth Jemlit’s try which turned the tables on Kelantan as Sabah took a 20-10 lead.
Kelantan responded by regaining the lead just before the break. Two tries by Zulkiflee Azmi (31st minute) and Wan Azley Wan Omar (36th minute) and a conversion put Kelantan back in front 24-20 as the game entered the half-way mark.
After the restart, Luke converted two more penalty kicks to narrow the gap on the opponent, while substitute Naqasima came on to help put Sabah Eagles back to flight.
His involvement in the game helped to wrap up the game for Sabah scoring two tries, while tries from Muhammad Safwan in the 60th and 70th minutes and a conversion from Muhd Amirul Aqil Kamsol gave Sabah a commanding lead of 40-24.
Another try from Naqasima and conversion by Amirul saw Sabah pull further ahead 47-24. Despite Kelantan hitting back with three tries from Mohamad Khairul Abdillah, Muhammad Zulhisyam Rasli and Mohd Syahir Asyraf (followed by three successful conversions) to narrow it to 47-45, the victory still went to Sabah.
In a post-match meeting, Luke in tears said: “In all my years of playing rugby, this was the highest accolade. The reason being I have never seen such close unity, bonding, harmony and brotherhood like this before.
“Players were determined to play for one another,” he said.
Head coach, Bradley Moni Mika, could not agree more and said it was a close battle where the game could have gone either way but true character of the players prevailed to clinch victory.
“Full credit to all the players in the squad for rising to the occasion despite trailing on numerous occasions. The players were hungry and showed that they wanted the title badly and fought all the way to down the equally determined Kelantan team,” said Mika who was in tears immediately after the final whistle and knelt down to say a thanksgiving prayer.
Naqasima on the other hand said winning the Cup for the third time (2014, 2015 and 2018) and winning after a two-year lapse was indeed sweet.
“I was said to be old, but the coach believed in me and had different plans for me in the team. I was used as a substitute and for my experience,” said the 38 year-old Fijian import.
“I am glad I came on made and scored the crucial points,” he added.
On his three tries which broke through the Kelantan defence with ease, he said: ‘’While on the bench was I was observing the Kelantan defence who were formidable and were causing us problems in breaking through.
“I noticed their weak point and area in the defence and I capitalised on it. I am glad it worked out,” said Naqasima who is among the panel of coaches with Sabah Eagles in Sandakan.
Nathanael, who had the agony of being in the sin bin for the closing stages of the game added: “The close knit relationship we had with one another…. watching out for each other and the fighting spirit with a never give up attitude ultimately gave us the victory despite facing many challenges and difficulties in our preparation as well as leading up to the final. The Sabah Eagles just kept their focus.”
On a personal note Nathanael shared with his teammates that it was difficult for him to make a comeback from the injury sustained during the Asia Premier.
“Winning the Agong’s Cup was indeed an icing on the cake. Thanks to the head coach and his coaching staff and all the players who kept to the mission and stayed focus on the task ahead, we triumphed.”
The prize money of RM15,000 was a bonus to Sabah as champions but bringing home the title for the fifth time was priceless.
Sabah made their debut Agong’s Cup final in 2005 but lost, before going on to win in 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2015.
PDRM won the inaugural title since the Agong’s Cup was introduced in 1983.
Armed Forces have won the Cup the most – 11 times. Selangor are next with six wins, followed by Kelantan with four victories.