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| MORE EFFORT NEEDED … Zainizam Marjan (right) fails to get the better of Perak’s Mohd Sharom A. Kalam during their Super League tie at the Likas Stadium on Saturday night. |
Yo-yo or inconsistency is one or two familiar words that crop up time and again to describe their past performance after the conclusion of the first round challenge on Saturday.
And partly no thanks to injuries and suspensions to key players which hampered their season.
For instance, against Perak on Saturday, Sabahawks was without nine players – which left them with only 15 players. Minus the three goalkeepers, for options, there were only 12 on-field players available!
Even then, the three points could have been in their bag if not for poor teamwork as there seem to be certain players looking for personal glory rather than wanting the team to achieve victory.
At the end, they lost all the three points to eventually conclude the opening half of the season languishing fourth from bottom in the 14-team standing – a mere three points above the relegation zone currently occupied by Johor FC and Kuala Lumpur.
They registered three wins, six draws and suffered four defeats from the 14 matches played to earn them 15 points.
That left them in 10th placing ahead of KL Felda United (14 points), Kedah (13), Johor FC (12) and Kuala Lumpur (1). They scored 17 goals and conceded 21.
On paper, when we look at the squad, including the coaching staff, well, we do have a decent side that can compete against the best in the League, as evident in a match against the Harimau Malaya not so long ago.
Unfortunately, disappointment is all we can utter right now as the team failed to show any kind of consistency in producing positive results.
But then again, the season is not over yet, and there is still time to put things right, albeit that the Sabah FA is willing to bite the bullet and make a drastic move in getting rid of the shirkers in the squad, as the saying goes, one rotten apple can spoil the whole basket!
Other measures must also be taken to overcome whatever weaknesses there may be in the squad.
At the same time, Justin Ganai, the head coach, must be given time and support to put things right, for there is a saying that a genius can’t do a thing about yesterday, but a good person can bring it together today!
For this is not a one man show, but a collective effort from everyone, the team management, the players, the coaching staff and most importantly the fans, who must stay behind the team for the future of Sabah football.
On the part of the players, they must buck up and play their role in turning the team’s fortune for the better when the second round resume on Tuesday.
It will definitely be a hard job for Justin Ganai and the boys to realize their top five finish target.
But it is still not an impossible one!
