Fourth straight league defeat

New Sabah Times

NO WAY THROUGH … Sabahawks’ Leopold Alfonso Otong (No 14) being surrounded by KL Pos Malaysia FC players during their match yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabahawks misery continues after succumbing to yet another embarrassing defeat, and this time to KL Pos Malaysia FC in a Premier League challenge at the Likas Stadium yesterday. This was their fourth consecutive league defeats. Prior to this clash, they lost to Kuala Lumpur (away – 2-3), Kedah (home 0-2) and UiTM FC (away 0-2). In fact, this was their fifth defeat in six games, with their only victory coming in the FA Cup first round against KL Felda United FC before they were trounced 3-0 by Selangor in the second round.

Yesterday, the team showed nothing more than a half-hearted performance. They were trailing only after five minutes of play when Mohd Saufi Mohd Ibrahim slotted home the opener from close range defeating Sabah custodian Mohd Syamsuri Mustafa with a grounder for the visitors. But Alto Linus put the Sabahawks on level terms four minutes later by unleashing a powerful shot from just outside the penalty box after being fed by Leopold Alfonso Otong.

 Two minutes after the half-time break, Shahrudin Yakup squandered the opportunity to put Sabahawks ahead when he lobbed the ball wide despite the KL Pos Malaysia’s goalmouth being left open. Then in the 65th minute, Mohd Saufi struck the second goal, turning out to be the match winner by unleashing a low drive from six yards out.

 “They are supposed to play with more aggression since they are playing a home game. They have to pressure the opponents, but the way I see it, they are playing like away from home. “I also don’t see any sign of desperation from the team of wanting to win the game badly. To me their actions show that they are not bothered about the outcome of the game at all.

 “I don’t know whether they are not fit enough, but in their situation, they need to fight tooth and nail and try to win the game, and it’s sad to see this happening,” said a former State player who declined to be named. Sabahawks head coach David McCreery seemed to agree by insisting that the players were not trying hard enough to win the game.

 When pressed further, McCreery rated the commitment put up by his players at 75 per cent. “I don’t know what the problem is. Their salaries have been paid in time and there were none due. What I can say now is a lot of the players have to look in the mirror and ask themselves what is the future ahead for them,” said a dejected McCreery when met after the match.

 According to him, in training the team has done quite well, although it can be improved! With only two wins from seven games, McCreery’s career with the team is now hanging in the balance.