Sarawak Sukma team finalised soon

KUCHING: Sarawak is expected to announce the finalised list of state Sukma XVI futsal team players on May 19.

Head coach Mohammad Mantali expects to identify the players after all members of the shadow squad have attended the Kem Semangat programme which will be held in Miri starting this week.

“We do have players indentified but it’s still really unconfirmed for now. We are working hard to identify the best players for the team,” said Mohammad yesterday.

Mohammad is expected to trim the current shadow team of 17 players to 14 players before wrapping up the select ion process.

Sarawak will only send the men’s team for this year’s Sukma. The women’s team did not meet the qualification standards set by the Sarawak State Sports Council ( MSNS).

Mohammad is optimistic that the men’s team, having won the bronze medal in the previous Sukma, have the potential to bring home medals in the coming Sukma next month.

Sarawak sent both the men’s and women’s teams to Kuala Lumpur in 2011. But the women went home empty-handed.

Meanwhile, the men’s squad have been busy lately with training programmes and competitions in preparation for Sukma in June.

We do have players indentified but it’s still it is really unconfirmed for now. We are working hard to identify the best players for the team.

Mohammad Mantali, Head coach

The squad was at Bintulu last month to compete in a competition.

They were also in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year to compete in the National Futsal League which was jointly organised by the Malaysia Football Association ( FAM) and FELDA.

The Sukma XVI, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur again this year, starts on June 28.

THAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT: File photo of Mohammad (left) emphasising a point to the Sukma squad during a training session recently. The finalised list of players is expected to be announced on May 19.