BANKING ON DUO

KOTA KINABALU: The Rhinos will be looking at their new signings – a Brazilian striker and Bosnian defender – to help them end their Premier League campaign on a winning note.

The Rhinos will take on Selangor PKNS in their final game of the season in an away battle at the MPPJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya tonight, and both Felisberto de Oliveira Freira Jr and Dragic Dalidor are expected to be in Drago Mamic’s game plan.

Team manager Rahman Zakaria said that they are working on some minor technical issues that need to be resolved before the duo could take to the battlefield.

“There are one or two technical things that need to be settled, but I’m quite convinced that both of them will be cleared tomorrow,” said Rahman, while declining to elaborate further on the issue.

Both striker Felisberto and the six-foot-tall Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Dragic replaced the already departed Nigerian duo of Prince Ativie Guy and Prince Eboagwa Etuwe.

While Sabah may want to end their campaign in the best possible finish – third placing – but based on the standings, fourth placing could well be their best finish, and that is if they can win tonight’s battle.

For Sabah to end their season in third spot, they must beat PKNS and hope that the Shahzan Muda-Johor PG tie ends in a draw. There are two matches left – the Sabah vs PKNS and the Shahzan Muda vs Johor Pasir Gudang ties to officially end the Premier League 2006/07 challenge.

At the moment, PKNS occupy the third spot behind eventual winners Police and second-placed UPB-MyTEAM, on 29 points, while Shahzan Muda are fourth on 28 followed by Johor PG and Sabah in fifth and sixth respectively.

Johor PG and Sabah are level on 27 points but the southern state team stay ahead of Sabah on a better goal average.

“No promises, but what I can assure is that we will try the best we can to win the game. It has been quite a long break, and I hope our trip to Brunei (friendly games) recently will do the players some good,” added Rahman.

Nigerian striker Charles Obi will spearhead the Rhinos’ attack with new boy Felisberto his likely striking partner.

In midfield, Rosdin Wasli and Chow Chee Wing will be the main men, while P. Rajes is likely to be at the right of midfield with Zulamri Muhammad on the left.

Ahmad Tharmini Saiban is likely to have a new partner in the heart of the Rhinos’ defence in Dragic, while Ronny Harun is expected to be on the right while S. Sunder on the left.

Irwan Jamil will be the goalkeeper.

West Coast Zone backs Anifah’s leadership

KOTA KINABALU: The Safa West Coast Zone yesterday voiced their support towards the current Sabah FA leadership led by President Datuk Anifah Aman.

But while wanting Anifah to stay at the helm of the association, they proposed that new blood be brought into the Sabah FA fold in order to bring new ideas to the association.

This was among the several agendas discussed at the Safa West Coast Zone Annual General Meeting cum election for new office bearers held at a leading hotel here yesterday.

At the same time, they also called on the Sabah FA to start giving out allocations to its affiliate members.

Its Chairman Juil Nuatim, who chaired the meeting, said that with the allocation, it would help affiliate members to carry out youth development activities at their respective zones.

The AGM also concluded that the organising of any futsal tournament must also get the sanction from district FAs if it is a district level tournament and from Zone or State FAs if it is a Zone or State level championship.

“We want the organiser to first get the sanction because the organising of futsal tournaments is also the same as any football tournament as they are also getting referees from the Sabah FA,” said Juil.

“We also hope that the referees will cooperate with us in this matter,” he added.

Juil also said that the AGM also saw Putatan being named as a new branch of the association.

With the latest development, Juil said West Coast Zone will have five branches namely Papar, Penampang, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and Putatan.

Meanwhile, during the election, all the incumbents retained their respective posts unopposed.

Johnny Goh remained as the patron, Juil (chairman), Alijus Sipil (deputy chairman), Matasan Ahmad (vice president I), Elbert Staun (vice president II), Viccor Lee (secretary), Justine Saning (secretary I), Mohd Noh Bialin (secretary II), Janus Tioon (treasurer), Ismail Tudiki (assistant treasurer).

The committee members are Roger Impou, Kanit Gindok, Mintoh Asai, Omar Abd Rais, Jifferin Ngadul, Ajak Bakar, Johnny Yek and Andrew John.

Branch chairmen are as follows – Safa Papar (Juil Nuatin); Safa Penampang (Elbert Staun); Safa Bandaraya (Alijus Sipil); Safa Tuaran (Abd kassim Jali @ Razali); Safa Putatan (unavailable).

LIKELY REPLACEMENT

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah FA is likely to name the replacement for the Nigerian duo, Prince Eboagwu Etuwe and Prince Guy Ativie next week.

Its Executive Secretary Harry Baking said that if things go according to plan they may identify the right man as early as Monday.

At the moment, there are two Brazilians, a striker and a defender, both undergoing trials with the Rhinos for the past weeks.

Harry said that no decision will be made until the arrival of another two hopefuls from Ivory Coast.

“We are expecting the two players (from Ivory Coast, a defender and midfielder) any time now … the latest would be by Friday.

“We will give them enough time to prove their worth and once we make up our minds then we will move on from there.

“Hopefully we will get our man ahead of our Malaysia Cup quarter-final clash against Negeri Sembilan Naza next month,” said Harry.

At the moment, Nigerian striker Charles Obi is the sole foreign player in the team following the departure of Eboagwu and Ativie.

Defender Eboagwu was forced out of the team after suffering a long-term injury on his right foot while striker Ativie failed to land a new contract upon the expiry of his short-term deal with the Rhinos.

Sabah will complete their Premier League campaign by playing an away game against Selangor PKNS on July 31 before their quarter-final first leg date with Negeri Sembilan on August 8.

The Rhinos’ return leg is at home on August 15.