Treat Pahang match like a final
Published on: Saturday, August 17, 2019
By: GL Oh
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Football Association (Safa) acting President Datuk Peter Anthony (pic) wants to see a self-confident group of players when Sabah take on Pahang in the Group A Malaysia Cup tie at Likas Stadium tonight (Saturday).The team are winless after their opening two matches to stay bottom while their opponents are at the other end of the table with maximum six points from their two matches played.
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He said the players must show some self-belief and start winning to keep their hopes of progressing into the next round alive.
“I believe the players who are given the task to play tomorrow night will be able to deliver a winning performance. They only need to stay focused and work hard as I can see that all the players have the capability to achieve that.
“It is not an easy task against Pahang but we have no choice but get a win to keep alive our hopes. Therefore I want the players to treat the match as a final or a play-off,” he said on Friday.
He urged the players to learn from their last two poor results and turn it into a winning performance.
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“We must learn from the last two losses and be motivated to face Pahang and to show Sabah Tambadaus are among the best team in Malaysia.
“The team did not play poorly in the two matches. In fact, we were almost at par with our opponents; the losses were largely due to our own undoing.
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“The 0-3 loss to Perak was due to lapse of concentration with each of the two goals conceded in injury time of each half, while the match against Penang, we had more control of the game and could have returned with at least a point if not because of the own goal that gifted them the three points.”
He also hopes the players know the importance of continuing to give their best as it will be taken into account for their status in the team next season.
The fans are also urged to come in large numbers tonight and act as the 12th member of the team by Peter.
Meanwhile, South Korean defender Park Taesu is still unsure of starting the match with the injury he had just picked up.
The team are already without the other import midfielder Ahmet Atayev who suffered a serious knee injury that may need surgery.
If Park is unable to make it, then veteran Mafry Balang is likely to take over his position in defence with skipper Rawilson Batuil, Evan Wensley Wenceslaus, Randy Baruh.
Rozaimie Rohim will remain in goal, while Ricco Nigel Milus will partner Azizan Nordin in midfield supported by Alto Linus, Jenius Karib or Maxsius Musa from the flanks.
The frontline will feature the imported duo of Aguinaldo Mendes and Rodoljub Paunovic.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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