KOTA KINABALU: The Rhinos are all fired up to maintain their winning touch when they take on Shahzan Muda in a Premier League tie at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan tonight.
In fact it will be a tricky trip for the Drago Mamic boys as they need nothing less than three points to keep their promotion quest intact.
Team manager Rahman Zakaria admitted that it will be another tough assignment for the team.
“In fact from now on, every match will be tough because we just cannot afford to lose any more points.
“We are playing catch up here, so obviously there is no room for error.
“I’m happy to see that the spirit in the team is high and the players are pretty much in the mood for more wins.
“They all indicated that they want to end this first round campaign with a win,” said Rahman.
Tonight will be the final first round match for the Premier League, but Sabah still have one game in hand that is against Police, which has been postponed to May 8.
“We are ready to fight and will give a good challenge to all our opponents,” Rahman said, referring to their promotion quest.
“I think we have a good team here and we are ready for Shahzan Muda. Furthermore, we have been doing pretty well lately, and there is surely no turning back for the boys.
But having said that, Rahman said they will certainly not underestimate their opponents.
“Be it the top teams, the bottom teams or from the Super League, we will treat them the same … we will play to the best of our capabilities or abilities.
“But there is no point of talking too much, because what matters most is what happens on the field. But I firmly believe that this team has all the strength and quality to go far, and Insyak Allah we will return home with all three points,” Rahman said.
Rahman has all the reason to be in such a confident mood as the Rhinos have not lost a Premier League game since January 9.
Despite their five-match unbeaten streak thus far, the Rhinos have been struggling to find their winning momentum until the victory over UPB-MyTEAM.
“I really hope this will be our springboard to achieve more wins in the Premier League. We have done pretty well in the Malaysia Cup as well as the FA Cup, but we also need to do well in the league, and it’s good to see that the players realise this,” Rahman added.
Rahman also said that all their best players are available for the clash, including striker-in-chief Charles Obi and newly-signed Prince Ativie Guy, who has been pretty impressive thus far.
Sabah are currently seventh in the 11-team standings on 10 points. As for Shahzan Muda, they occupy the fourth spot on 12 points.
A victory for the Rhinos would help them leap frog Shahzan Muda or even third-placed Selangor PKNS, should the club side fail to collect any point in their clash against KL Plus FC.
For the record, UPB-MyTEAM lead the standings on 20 points, followed closely by Police in second with 19.
SABAH’S PROBABLE LINE UP: Irwan Jamil, Harold John, Prince Eboagwa Etuwe, Ahmad Tharmini Saiban, Ronny Harun, Burhan Ajui, Rezuan Mohd Radzi, Hardy Charles Parsi, S. Sunder, P. Rajes, Henry Soimpon, Rosdin Wasli, Radzi Hussin, Chow Chee Wing, Charles Obi, Prince Ativie Guy, Azrul Ejati Damsah.
