Kota Kinabalu: After weeks of speculation, Alto Linus has finally rejoined the State squad on a one-year deal.Sabah Football Association (Safa) Vice President cum Chairman of the Team Management Committee Joehari Ayub confirmed the signing on Monday.He said the decision to sign him is because the committee believed that the Keningau lad can add depth to the squad who are short on players at the moment.
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"We hope the latest signing would help strengthen our side in the remainder of our Premier League challenge, and will also give Milomir Seslija more options in picking his best eleven."The 28-year-old former international first joined Sabah FA in 2010 and he started his career as a striker before he changed his position to play as right back and in midfield.
He appeared in 28 matches for Sabah and scored three goals before he left to join East Coast outfit T-Team during the pre-season training last year but he was only employed twice by his new team this season.He was subsequently demoted to play for their President Cup squad and on his recent return to the Likas Stadium, he headed in one goal to help T-Team to beat Sabah 2-0 and his performance impressed the Safa officials in the stands.
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On his return to the State team, he said he is determined to prove that T-Team was wrong to let him go."I would like to thank the Sabah FA for accepting me back into the team.
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There is no other way for me to repay their faith other than to give my best so that the team can achieve success," he said.Meanwhile, Joehari also revealed that the State squad will be on a one-week tour to Peninsula Malaysia during the current three-week break.He said the team will leave for the national capital on Saturday and would take on Super League sides KL Sime Darby FC on Sunday followed by another friendly against Perak on May 1 before returning home.Meanwhile, the Sabah President Cup team aims to finish the preliminary rounds with a win against Penang in their final match at the Likas Stadium on Thursday.With chance of a quarterfinal berth long gone, coach Burhan Ajui urged his players to end the round at least on a winning note and keep their fifth place standing ahead of their opponents today.Only a point separate the two teams with Sabah on 20 and Penang on 19 and a loss today will see the islanders leapfrog Sabah into fifth place."Our mission tomorrow is to finish the best that we can for this season and I have called on the players to play their best to register a win."He said the team will be at full strength with Rawilson Batuil and Maxsius Musa back in the team and is confident that the team will achieve their target."There may be a reshuffle in the starting line-up with the presence of Rawilson and Maxsius. Rawilson will definitely be playing in central defence and he is likely to be partnered by Ruzmanizam Roseland with right back Randy Baruh and Ag. Ku Md Hamizan Ag. Ku Hamzah on the left.""Ruzmanizam's place as a back-up striker may go to Dyrrance Junaioh and he will lead the attack with Saliun Mastar and O'Neil Shanahan Marcellinus Bungkilan."
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He said Maxsius is to start with Jenius Karib and Azizan Nordin in the engine room with Rendy Rening in goal.On the Sukma line-up, Burhan said it is still early to name the final 25-member squad as some of the Under-19 players are yet to be registered and he will only make the final assessment with all the players available.
