Skuad Badak tak mahu 'bintang'

Oleh MUSTAPA LAKAWA
mustapa@kosmo.com.my

TIDAK seperti pasukan lain yang teruja mendapatkan pemain bertaraf 'bintang', Sabah pula lebih selesa menggunakan khidmat pemain negeri itu bagi menghadapi kempen Liga Perdana musim depan.

Menurut pengurus pasukan, Rahman Zakaria, keputusan itu dibuat berdasarkan situasi semasa selain kedudukan Sabah yang kini sedang melalui proses pembangunan semula.

Begitupun, Rahman mengaku bahawa skuad Badak itu tetap memerlukan sentuhan pemain luar dalam misi mengembalikan maruah bola sepak Sabah.

Antara pemain luar yang dijangka menyertai pasukan itu ialah Chan Wing Hong, iaitu pemain pertahanan berpengalaman dari Perak.

"Dia (Chan Wing Hong) akan datang ke Sabah minggu depan untuk berbincang mengenai keputusannya menyertai pasukan ini," jelas Rahman kepada Kosmo! semalam.

"Selain Wing Hong, pemain luar lain yang akan terus bersama pasukan ini ialah Wong Sai Kong selain Chow Chee Weng yang diharap dapat terus menyarung jersi skuad negeri ini."

Begitupun, Sabah yang kini dibimbing oleh jurulatih sementara, Burhan Ajui tetap memberi keutamaan kepada pemain negeri itu untuk beraksi pada musim depan.

"Kami masih perlukan khidmat pemain tempatan seperti Zainizam Marjan, Joey Ryan Gundok dan Hardy Charles Parsi serta beberapa lain pemain muda yang lain," tambah Rahman.

"Pasukan kami juga bakal mendapat sentuhan pemain berbakat, Ian James Wong yang juga anak kepada bekas pemain negeri, James Wong."

Turut memperkuatkan pasukan Sabah pada kempen musim baru akan datang ialah Bobby Gonzales, Zaykiel Leong, Restu Emat, Zuraindey Jumai, Radzi Hussin, Mohd. Farid Saibun dan Azrul Ejati Damsah.

Sementara itu, Rahman turut mengesahkan bahawa Sabah kini dalam proses untuk mencari ketua jurulatih bagi menggantikan tempat jurulatih dari Croatia, Drago Mamic.

"Apa yang boleh saya katakan ialah persatuan sedang dalam perbincangan untuk mendapatkan jurulatih dari Timur Tengah," jelasnya.

Rusty Rhinos

KOTA KINABALU: The rusty Rhinos were held to a two-all draw by Kota Belud Selection in a friendly match played at the Kota Belud District Council field on Sunday.

It was defender Mafry Ballang who saved them from the blushes as they fought their way back after trailing to the amateur Kota Belud side.

The match played in conjunction with the Kota Belud Tamu Besar celebration saw the Rhinos go down 2-0 at half time.

Caretaker coach Burhan Ajui when contacted told the New Sabah Times Sport that it was not a bad game despite the result showing otherwise.

“We are not looking for any excuses, but the condition of the field did not help us at all. The field was muddy and slippery due to rain earlier on, and it took quite a while before we could settle down.

“We were a bit too cautious in the first half, and I can understand why they did that. Obviously they were trying to avoid any injuries.”

Sabah started the game with Zainizam Marjan and Restu Emat in attack, while Zuraindey Jumai and Radzi Hussin manned the centre of midfield, with Mohd Farid Saibun on the left and Azrul Ejati Damsah on the right.

Henry Parsi and Mafry started at the centre of the defence with Zulamri Muhammad on the right and Gasili Pengalot on the left.

But after the break, Burhan said he switched to an attacking game and brought in Salvester Sindeh for Henry, while Joey Ryan Gundok and Hardy Charles Parsi came in for Radzi and Farid respectively.

Meanwhile, team manager Rahman Zakaria said it was not the right time to speak on the team’s performance just yet, adding that it was still early days.

“The players have started training and I can see some encouraging progress. Obviously there is room for improvement.

“I believe the squad will get into full gear when the team embark on full training from Nov 3,” he said.

Rahman’s assessment of the friendly game in which Sabah fielded all local players, found there were various areas that need to be strengthened.

“Defence is one area and we are also looking into several positions that we need to beef up. We will look for the players who can improve the team and of course we will give local footballers priority.

All local players started training under Burhan Ajui on Oct 13 in addition to several former players including Mafry, Gasili Pengalot and Restu Emat.

One player missing from training was striker Bobby Gonzales who is believed to be looking for a new experience elsewhere next year.

“We want him in the squad for next season but on the other hand we will not stop him from making his own decision,” added Rahman.

Another former player – Zaykiel Leong – was supposed to be with the team, but due to work commitment, he skipped the trip to Kota Belud.

On the local imports, Rahman said Wong Sai Kong has stated his commitment to the State team.

He was also hopeful that Chow Chee Weng would continue to don the State’s colours, although the former was made to understand that the hard-running midfielder has caught the eyes of another team.

“Chan Wing Hong who was with Perak last season will also try his luck with Sabah,” revealed Rahman.

Rahman reiterated that the door is not closed on former players or local imports to join Sabah but first they must prove their worth.

He also revealed that there are several coaches who have stated their interest in leading the team next season but no decision has been made yet.

Meanwhile, the Rhinos are expected to take part in an invitational football tournament in Labuan to further enhance their preparations.

“We are also planning to visit various districts in the State which will be our preparations-cum-talent scouting programme in November,” he said.

The new Malaysian League season which will start in January will feature all-Malaysian players after the FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) decision to implement the “no foreign players” ruling.

Sabah will be playing in the Premier League, equivalent to the Second Division, for the fourth consecutive season.

Sabah 1996 League Champion!!

Source:http://www.photoblog.com/adamiqbal/

Chance to follow dad King James’ footsteps

KOTA KINABALU: Ian and Duncan – will have the chance to follow the footsteps of their father – King James Wong.

The siblings are among those who have been attending training with the Rhinos since Wednesday.

However, before they could emulate the success story of their father, who is a living legend as far as Malaysian football is concerned, they certainly need to do a lot to earn a place in the State team – their first hurdle.

But as long as they have that burning desire to succeed within them, they certainly can do it.

Furthermore, Ian is no stranger to the State side, as he was part of the Under-19 squad a few years back, while his younger sibling is in his first attempt at donning the Rhinos’ colours.

The Rhinos’ first two days of training has been pretty encouraging!

It has been quite awhile since the first-day of training attracted so many players. But since they started on Wednesday, over 20 players – current, former and new faces – turned up at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex field B.

And if this is anything to go by, then those who dream of seeing the Rhinos represented by all-local players in the upcoming M-League could well see their dream come true.

And this is surely a positive sign for the Rhinos, who were once a force to be reckoned with.

For the time being training is under the watchful eyes of assistant coach Burhan Ajui, who is also a former Rhino.

With the Sabah FA’s determination to groom more local players for the new season that is expected to kick off in early January, having an all-local side is something that could turn into reality!

Rahman Zakaria is delighted with the positive outlook of the team.

“It is good to see because we are just starting our preparations for the new season.

“Furthermore, it is our hope to see more local players in the Sabah team and my advice is for these players to try their best and prove that they deserve to be in the State team,” Rahman, who is an FA Supreme Council member said.

Rahman, who led the Rhinos as team manager last season, added that as long as these hopefuls can prove they have what it takes to be in the team, the team management will waste no time in hiring them.

Rahman went on to say that for a start, the team will prepare for a friendly match against Kota Belud Selection at the end of this month.

“This is just the beginning of our preparations, but by November things will get more serious as more players will be coming,” Rahman said.

Besides Ian and Duncan, among those who turned up for the training were Gasili Pengalot, Joey Ryan Gundok as well as Restu Emat, who are either former Rhinos or ex-Reserve League players.

Almost all local players from the current squad have also been seen during training.

No dilly-dally

KOTA KINABALU: After an unsuccessful bid to gain promotion into the Super League for a record fourth consecutive time last season, the Sabah FA will not leave any stone unturned in their preparations for the upcoming new season that is scheduled to kick off early next year.

Its Executive Secretary Harry Baking said this time they will try their level best to form a squad that is capable of realising their targets, with promotion their top priority.

He said that this time around there will be no time wasting as far as their preparations are concerned as they will get the ball rolling starting from next week.


Harry said for a start they would call all players from the 2007/08 squad who are living in and around the State Capital to report for training on Monday. (For more information, the players are requested to check with the Sabah FA office.)

“Training will start on Monday, but this will be for those players who are residing in or around the State Capital. For the rest of the players, we will soon inform them when to report.

“We want them to report to our coaches (Burhan Ajui and Khairul Azman Mohd). They (Burhan and Khairul) will take charge of the training for the time being until we announce our head coach, which is likely to be done anytime from now.

Harry also said that they are opening their doors to ex-Rhinos who plied their trade with other teams last season.

“We welcome them with open arms, but then again, like the rest of the players in the team, they would have to impress our selection panel before they can dream of making a comeback.

“Such criteria will not only apply to them, but also the rest of the current players.

More than five ex-Rhinos played for other States or club sides last season.

Among them are lanky defender Md Reithiddin Emran (Perlis), Madzalan Emoi, Sumardi Hajalan (both Johor FC), Gasili Pengalot, Sanjos Sundawat (Police) and Razalan Oto (UPB-MyTeam).

“I have been receiving calls from some of these players, and I told them that they are more than welcome, but then again, there will be no direct entry into the team as everyone and each of the players will first have to impress our selection panel before they can sign for the team,” said Harry.

For the record, last season, Sabah finished a disappointing fourth placing behind eventual champions Kuala Muda Naza, KL Plus and Kelantan.