New Sabah Times
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Cebagoo FC is looking good to snatch full points when they take on Kelantan Tumpat FA in a FAM Cup tie at the UMS Mini Stadium today.
Head coach Razali Zinin insists they will be aiming for nothing less than victory in order to keep their challenge intact.
He said, despite losing their last tie 0-1 to Penang in an away battle, spirit in the team remains high.
“The spirit within the squad is great … despite losing the game against Penang last week, it had a positive impact on the team,” said Razali, who had described the Penang show as their best thus far in the season.
“Hopefully, they will put up the same kind of show tomorrow (today) because we need the full three points to keep our challenge intact. It would also help us improve our home record.
Cebagoo collected only four points from a possible 12 at home compared to six points from two wins and two losses on their travels.
The only home win came on the opening day of the season against a youthful Malacca side 2-0 before losing the next two to Pahang Kuantan FC (0-1) and ATM Tentera Darat (2-3) before being held 1-1 by Shahzan Muda.
Cebagoo won 1-0 against PBM Kedah, 2-0 against Perak YBU FC and lost 0-1 both to PBAPP FC and Penang away from home.
Cebagoo are fifth in the 11-team league on 10 points and trail leaders PBAPP FC by nine points.
For today’s clash, Razali will be forced to make one change to the side with holding midfielder Md Arifyanshah Jafar sitting out the game due to suspension.
Razali is likely to bring in Mohd Nazmeer Stuh to fill the vacuum left by Arifyanshah where he would be joined by veteran Billyton Vun, Gerd Smith, Md Nizam Jefferi and Zain Ambarog in a five-man midfield.
Captain Mohd Reithuddin Emran, Abd Thaufiq Abd Hoq, Zulfikri Jemai and highly-rated Mohd Nazrein Sani will be the back four with Shairul Boidi in between the posts.
Rainold Masaat will be on his own up front.
Razali also revealed his intention of bolstering Cebagoo up front when the second transfer window opens from April 8-22.
“If you look at our statistics, majority of the results were won or lost by a single goal and then there is a draw,” he said, before adding that they need a good striker.
“It is an area that we hope to make an improvement during the transfer window,” he added.
For the record, during the transfer window, teams are allowed to sign up three local and two foreign players.
