KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will be hoping to get its new signing David Njuko’s International Transfer Certificate (ITC) in time for the clash against Kuala Lumpur as they search for their first victory in the Malaysia Cup Group B challenge.
The Rhinos who were beaten 1-3 at home by Penang in the opener will now have to pick up the points on the road as they take on fellow Premier League outfit Kuala Lumpur at the Kuala Lumpur Football Association in Cheras tonight.
Although the Nigerian striker was not part of the traveling squad that left for the national capital yesterday, but he will take the earliest flight to Kuala Lumpur should his ITC arrive ahead of the clash.
Njuko, who last played for Warrior FC in the Liberian Premier League, has been roped in to replace the out-of-contract Georgian striker Kokhrei Dze Irakli.
“It is only a matter of getting his ITC before he could make his debut,” said Sabah FA Executive Secretary Harry Baking yesterday.
Harry hopes that the Rhinos will start to get their act right in order to put them back on the right track for a place in the next round.
“We just have to start getting the points or it will be too late,” Harry said.
“In this Cup competition there is little room for slip-ups. Furthermore, after this clash we have two tough matches coming,” he said, referring to Sabah’s date with two Super League outfits Johor FC and Kedah.
Sabah will play at home in both matches with the Southern club side being the first visitors (on Friday), while the date with Kedah has been slated for Monday.
Tonight, Sabah will again have to rely on Brazilian striker Andre Scotti Ossemer in attack with either Bobby Gonzales or Salvester Sindeh his possible partner.
In midfield, Mohd Nafuzi Zain should return to the first team. He is likely to orchestrate the engine room together with Zuraindey Jumai, Chow Chee Wing and Hisamuddin Othman.
At the backline, Mohd Munir Amran is also likely to start the game after being sidelined in the opener.
He will share the responsibility together with Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Dragic Dalibor, Ahmad Tharmini Saiban and Wong Sai Kong with Harold John likely to be retained as the number one ball stopper for the team.
Elsewhere on the night, Super League champions, Kedah, who bagged a double after being crowned the FA Cup champions on Saturday, take on Penang in an away battle while Police face Johor FC.
In the Group A challenge, Negeri Sembilan will host Terengganu while Selangor will take on Sarawak. The other Group A tie will see Kelantan pitted against Melaka.
Pahang will take on Perak in a Group C tie while Perlis versus UPB-MyTEAM and Armed Forces play Johor Pasir Gudang.
