Weather dampens Justin’s plans

New Sabah Times

JUSTIN GANAI

KOTA KINABALU: Bad weather is hampering Justin Ganai’s plan in plotting for the Sabahawks revival in the Malaysian Super League that is currently taking a two-week break. He said that as much as they want to focus on their preparations, but there is nothing much he could do if it continues to rain every day.

 “It has been raining almost every afternoon, and that’s our biggest problem,” the Sabahawks’ head coach lamented. When met at the Likas Stadium where they were scheduled to take on the State Under-19 side, Justin added he was left with no choice but to look for other alternatives … be it his training programme or training venue.

 Yesterday, the friendly match proceeded, albeit that it had to be shifted from the Likas Stadium to the adjacent field B due to rain. According to Justin, due to the bad weather, it is impossible for them to train at the Likas Stadium every day, as it would ruin the field. “So we have to look for other alternatives.
Sometimes, we train at the UMS Stadium or the Intan Mini Stadium. He said during the ongoing break, he is focusing on the team’s fitness apart from trying to improve on the combination of the team, following the arrival of their new foreign signing German Hendrik Helmke.

 When asked about Hendrik, Justin reserved his comments, but did drop a hint that the latter looks quite promising in training. “It is too early to make any judgment. I don’t want to give him any additional pressure, but he looks okay in training.

 “Even during our friendly against a local club, he looked good, but then again, it is hard to see his true potential in a game like that,” said Justin. Sabahawks are still finding it tough going in the Malaysian Super League where they are currently languishing third from bottom in the 14-team standings.

 Suspension and injuries to key players is not helping their cause at all. For instance, in their last three matches or so, almost one third of the squad was out due to either suspension or injuries. “We have been hit by injures quite badly.

 But now, some of them have slowly recovered from their respective injuries. “I hope, some of them will fully recover during this break,” said Justin before pointing out that Alto Linus, who has missed the team’s last two matches has recuperated.

 “Alto is back in training, but the likes of Rosdin Wasli, Razlan Oto and Brendan Gan are still out, and so is Julamri Muhammad. “I think, Brendan needs another week or two, as well as Rosdin, while Razlan, who has joined the team back in training, needs at least another two or three weeks. Sabahawks would resume their challenge by taking on KL Felda United FC on May 4 at the Likas Stadium