Daily Express
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah M-League team are urged to consider the Sabah Foundation football field as their pre-season training ground.
Innoprise Capital Sdn Bhd manager Abas Ali made the call on Monday in view of the predicament faced by the team over their training venue.
Coach David McCreery was in dilemma as the team were unable to use their usual training ground at Likas Stadium because of the renovation currently underway in preparation for the 2013 Sabah Games.
And the team were forced to use the Intan Campus field since the start of their pre-season training which was situated more than 10km away in Tuaran.
They were also unable to utilise the University Sabah Malaysia (UMS) field resulting in the Sabah Football Association committee led by Vice President I Datuk Osman Jamal making a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor Prof. Datuk Harun Abdullah on Monday regarding the matter.
Abas said it was rather sad to see the team having to endure such a predicament with the season set to start soon.
"The Sabah football squad are the pride of our State and we will definitely give priority to them if they are interested to train here."
"As a coach myself I understand how important it is to have a proper training facility for the players and we welcome the coaches and officials to come and check out themselves whether the fields are suitable," added the former State badminton coach.
Meanwhile, Sabah FA Secretary General Alijus Sipil finally announced the names of the eight local imports who will don Sabah colours next season.
It will feature four former T-Team players - Khairul Izwan Khalid (striker), Md Syamsuri Md Mustafa (goalkeeper), Wan Md Aliff Wan Jasmi (striker) and Shahril Faizal Shariffuddin (defender).
The other four players are Mohd Hafizulldin Mohd Noor (ex-KL Pos defender), Mohd Fazilidin Khalid (ex-Selangor midfielder), Shahril Shaari (ex-Harimau Muda A goalkeeper) and Wan Azwari Wan Noor (ex-Pahang left back).
Alijus also confirmed the signing of Malian striker Koh Traore as the team's second foreign import after former Dundee captain Rhys David Weston.
They will spearhead the team's challenge for a quick return to the Super League next season together with local players led by veteran striker Zainizam Marjan, Rosdin Wasli, Alto Linus, Shahrul Azhar Ture, Sumardi Hajalan, Radzi Mohd Hussin, Shahrudin Yakup, Irwan Jamil, Juffry Omopor, Sabri Sahar, Leopold Alfonso, Razid Gafar, Hardy Charles Parsi, Julamri Mohd, Mohd Ibnu Kassim and Farid Saibun.
