KOTA KINABALU: Four ex-Rhinos are likely to make a comeback and don State colours once again.
The foursome – Madzalan Emoi, Zuraindey Jumai, Eddie Gapil and Sumardi Hajalan – are expected to be offered contracts with the team.
The trio are believed to be in talks with the team management. However, at press time nothing has been finalised.
With the exception of Sumardi Hajalan who is currently on national duty, both Madzalan and Zuraindey are currently in training with the squad under head coach Drago Mamic.
Team manager Rahman Zakaria confirmed that they are in talks with all the three players, but refused to go into detail.
He said: “We will surely give them a chance, but they must prove and show us that they deserve a place in the State squad.”
“They also have to look after their discipline on and off the pitch. We have a high discipline standard in the squad. And we will surely not want shirkers to ruin what has been a good set up in the team at the moment,” Rahman added.
For the record, Madzalan donned Perlis colours the last two seasons, while Eddie played for Police.
As for Sumardi, he left Sabah to play for Johor FC in the just concluded season, while Zuraindey joined Beverly FC after he left the State team in the early 2000s.
Besides the foursome, two other new faces that are expected to beef up the squad are two local imports, namely Wong Sai Kong and Nafuzi Zain.
The existing players are David Johnny, Ebby Roy Raimon, Rosdin Wasli, Zainizam Marjan, Bobby Gonzales, Azrul Ejati Damsah, Hardy Charles Parsi, Mohd Radzi Hussin, Zulamri Muhammad, Henry Parsi, Harold John, Irwan Jamil, Chow Chee Wing, Ahmad Tharmini Saiban, Rezuan Muhammad Radzy, Munir Amran, and Salvester Sindeh.
The Rhinos are expected to pen their contracts with the Sabah FA before the kick off on November 19.
