Kedah acid test awaits Rhinos
Published on: Friday, April 24, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Rhinos will face an acid test tonight (Friday) as they will be without El Hadji Diouf for the first time this season when they take on Kedah at the Likas Stadium.The ex-Liverpool player is suspended for one match after picking up three yellow cards together with Shafuan Adli.Head coach Mike Mulvey said on Thursday Sabah are not a one-man team and it may be a big loss to lose Diouf but the absence of the duo have given an opportunity to the other players.ADVERTISEMENT "It is a blow to lose Diouf. His awareness on the field, his confidence on his ability and the way he brings the other players into the game is a joy to watch."But we always said in our meeting that the team are not about one person, it is all about the team and tomorrow night is a challenge with the suspensions of Diouf and Shafuan as it also opens up an opportunity for somebody else and I hope they take it."He said Leopold Alfonso and Azizan Nordin will start the match tonight in place of the suspended duo.He expects a tough match against Kedah who are only one point adrift after watching a video footage of them against JDT.ADVERTISEMENT "I have seen the DVD of them and they are quite compact and they have some players that can dribble and I expect a tough match."No game in football is easy to win. I respect our opponents but at the end of the day if we perform to our level then we should be able to dictate the course of the game."
ADVERTISEMENT
He said the players must take advantage of the home ground to get the right result."We are at home and we have to force the issue. Last week we played very well against Penang especially in the first half and what I would like them to do is to play like that for 90 minutes."If we can put together a performance like that I think we are hard to beat by any other team."Meanwhile, the coach said Eamon Zayed who has scored six goals in the last five matches has benefited from the team's style of play."He has benefited from the ability of the team to play like a team. What we have done is try to get him into the right area and take advantage of the situation and he has done well as all good strikers should do."Meanwhile, stand-in skipper Abdoulaye Faye who is taking over the armband from suspended El Hadji Diouf is confident the team will deliver against Kedah tonight."I have the confidence because we are playing at home and the lads have been playing very very well with wins in all the matches here with only one draw.He said he is under no pressure to wear the armband."I am used to captaining Stoke City in the past so I know my responsibility for the team."It is going to be a big miss with the absence of Diouf. The players need me now and I will do my best to help the team to win. I believe if we can keep a clean sheet, we will be able to win the game tomorrow night."He admitted that it won't be easy but there is a possibility because he said the players have progressed well since the arrival of Mike Mulvey."In the past our defence did not have the discipline. We tended to have problems with the tactical aspect in defending."Now with Mike here, who has done a great job and every player seemed to know their role in defending."Meanwhile, Diouf said the team is not all about him and called on the fans to come to support the team.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
"Everything is not about me, it is all about the club or Sabah. We are in good spirit right now. The team played well and we are winning because the fans are always there to support us and the massive lift this season for the team is the fans."He said he will be there to support the team with all the players who are not playing tonight.