New Sabah Times
KOTA KINABALU: Sabahawks Juniors are in for a tricky trip when they take on schoolboys from the Bukit Jalil Sports School (SSBJ) in a President Cup challenge at the National Sports Council Field D in Bukit Jalil today.
Datuk Juil Nuatim admitted that will be a difficult tie for his charges who are against an energetic SSBJ.
However, the Sabah team manager remains upbeat about their chances, insisting that if the players play to their true strength, then they should be able to turn the table on the teenagers.
“This is not going to be an easy ride for us. Although they are a young side, they have proven to be a no-nonsense team. They are good defensively and we must give it a good go in order to get a positive result,” Juil said when contacted yesterday.
But Juil could not hide his worries on the team’s inconsistency in finding the back of the net.
“This has been our main problem the whole season. I hope the players will take every opportunity that is presented to them, whether it is the strikers, midfielders or even the defenders.
“Against Kuala Lumpur, we created so many chances, including a missed penalty.
It was the same against the Police, we created so many chances, but we merely managed to scrap through with a narrow 2-1 win in our last home game.
“So tomorrow (today), I’m expecting them to be more clinical in their finishing, and if they can do that, then our chances of winning are bright,” he added.
On their target, he said they are going for the full points.
“We must try our very best to get our winning momentum going. Furthermore, we are in a must-win situation. Any slip up would jeopardize our chances of making the quarter-finals,” Juil said.
Sabahawks Juniors are currently in ninth in the 18-team standings on 35 points from eight wins, 11 draws and five defeats, and a mere two points behind Penang, who occupied the last spot for the quarterfinals.
Seventh placed Selangor are also ahead of Sabahawks Juniors by two points, but have a game in hand.
Failing to get maximum points can see Sabahawks Juniors being pip by 10th placed Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI), who are only a point behind the State Under-21 side, should the Johor-based sports school collect full points against Negeri Sembilan on the road.
