KOTA KINABALU: The exodus of senior players has left the Sabah FA with nothing but a lot of rebuilding work to do in preparing its team for the new season.
With only about two more months or so left before the new season kicks off, there is not much time left for them to get the team ready ahead of the kick off which is expected to be early January.
At the moment, the Rhinos’ preparations are far from encouraging with assistant coach Burhan Ajui given the “heavy” responsibility of taking charge of the team since they began their preparations early this month.
The FA’s scheduled team management meeting on Monday is in fact a much-awaited moment as a lot of decisions will be made. Among the hot topic that needs to be addressed urgently is the hiring of a new coach.
The hiring of new players as well as their preparation plans will also be on the agenda.
For the new season, all of the local imports have left the team.
Defender Ahmad Tharmini Saiban has signed for his home state Johor, while Munir Amran and Chow Chee Wing are believed to have been signed by Felda United.
Hishamuddin Othman is joining Kuala Lumpur, while Mohd Nafuzi Zain is signing with Kelantan.
Wong Sai Kong is almost certain to join Sarawak.
Bobby Gonzales is believed to have signed for Brunei, while both Salvester Sindeh and Eddie Gapil’s future in the team is still uncertain as the duo are likely be called by their employer Police.
With the FA of Malaysia’s ruling to do away with the foreign players, it has left the Rhinos to do without more than a dozen of their regular faces for the new season.
The only seniors left in the team now are Zainizam Marjan and Rosdin Wasli.
The rest are the three young goalkeepers namely Irwan Jamil, Harold John and Mohd Salawi Jasad.
There are also rumours that Irwan and flanker Azrul Ejati Damsah are being lured by Johor.
Zuraindey Jumai, Mohd Radzi Hussin, Zulamri Muhammad, Mohd Farid Saibun, Henry Parsi, Hardy Charles Parsi are among those sticking with the team.
And those expected to make a comeback into the state team are Gasili Pengalot, Mafry Balang, Joey Ryan Gundok, Zaykiel Leong and Vun Ket Ming @ Billyton.
Restu Emat, Rezuan Aman Khan, Mohd Zuneral Lalah, Mohd Reithuddin Awang Emran, and Ian James Wong have also been seen training with the team.
There are also a few more players from the Reserve League and Under-19 squad as well as a few new faces training with the team.
