Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's run in this year's football season has turned for the better - thanks to chief coach Drago Mamic.
Team manager, Rahman Zakaria said the management was all praises for the Croatian coach who managed to transform the Rhinos into a team to be reckoned with this season.
Under Mamic, Sabah only lost two games in the Premier League and also two games in their Malaysia Cup campaign, so far.
The 3-nil victory over superleague outfit Pahang on Saturday demonstrated the Rhinos ability to play an attacking game under Mamic's supervision.
"We are glad to see Head Coach Mamic is able to bring about winning changes to the team," said Rahman when asked to comment on Sabah's match against Pahang on Sunday.
Indirectly, he said it has created a sort of an eye opener for other teams that Sabah should not be taken lightly.
On the chances of reaching the Malaysia Cup quarterfinals, Rahman said it looked good based on the outlook of the other groups especially Group A where third placed Kuala Lumpur had only managed to garner 12 points compared to Sabah's 15.
The points tally was important because the two best third place team would accompany the top two teams from the three groups to the last eight.
In Group C, Sabah were still in third place although the Rhinos are sharing a similar points with second place Perak and just one point behind Kedah.
Both Kedah and Perak did not play on Saturday.
In Group A, the top team Selangor were with 19 points followed by Melaka Telecom with 13 points and Kuala Lumpur with 12 points.
Sabah would enter the quarterfinals by virtue of being among the best two third-placed teams if either Telecom or Kuala Lumpur fail to win points. It may also go down to the goal difference.
Meanwhile, Group B saw Naza Negri Sembilan leading the group with 18 points, Terengganu 17 points and Melaka with 16 points.
This may change going into the last game on May 26 when Sabah face the Police in an away match.
Rahman said that while the Rhinos are comfortable, as they only need a draw against the Police to go through to the last eighth but it would not mean that the team can be complacent.
Under Coach Mamic, Sabah would go all out to secure a berth in the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Cup 2007, he said.
The Rhinos next home match would be in the Premier League against Naza Kuala Muda on May 11.
