Heat on Justin, Sabahawks

New Sabah Times

ALMOST … Sabahawks’ custodian Azizon Abd KAdir (right) foils Sarawak’s Shahrol Saperi. 

KOTA KINABALU: Justin Ganai is starting to feel the heat after seeing his side succumb to another loss (1-0) to Sarawak in a Borneo Derby clash at the Sarawak Stadium in Kuching on Saturday. The Sabahawks’ head coach is fully aware of the circumstances they face unless drastic measures are taken to improve their fast fading chances of survival.

 But they still have 10 games left to put things in order … starting with a home tie against Terengganu’s T-Team on Tuesday. The defeat left Sabahawks nearer the relegation zone in 10th position with only 19 points from 16 games played in the 14-team league.

 “We are fighting at the wrong end of the table and our situation is not good. Rather than moving up the ladder, we dropped one place to 10th after the defeat to Sarawak. Sarawak’s Cameroonian striker Joel Epalle scored the only goal of the match to inflict a fifth loss for Sabah and in the process moved the Crocs up to eighth position.

 Epalle, capped 31 times by Cameroon, capitalised on a misunderstanding in the Sabah backline to score the winning goal in the 32nd minute, thus avenging their 1-2 first round defeat at the Likas Stadium. Justin said that Sarawak, despite playing in an empty stadium, were all fired up for the game.

 “Sarawak were the better team. They never let us settle down with their pressing game … they left us with little space to move the ball around the pitch. We did not play the way I have hoped from the players, although we did create several chances.

 Sabahawks were close to find the equaliser when Brendan Gan was put through on goal but unfortunately the Australian midfielder, who was pushed upfront, squandered his chance, despite only having the keeper to beat. “We must bounce back from this defeat…Tuesday is another huge game for us.”