New Sabah Times
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Cebagoo FC will take on newly crowned FAM Cup champions Penang in their penultimate match of the season at the Penampang Stadium today, kicking off at 4.15pm.
This will be their last home tie before concluding their 2013 campaign away to Tumpat FC of Kelantan on June 30.
Head coach Razali Zinin hopes that since this will be their last home game, it will give his charges extra motivation to go all out against their opponents.
While anticipating a tough encounter, Razali insisted that it is not impossible to turn the table on the Premier League-bound Islanders.
“It will be a tough game, but if we go out there and do our best, we will always stand a chance of getting what we aim for. The most important thing is to give the best we could,” said Razali, when contacted yesterday.
Cebagoo FC, Sabah’s sole representative in the competition, has had a positive start to the season by chalking up a 2-0 win over Melaka in the season opener last February.
But as the season progressed, they found it tough going, and they are currently sitting in the bottom half of the 11-team standings on 16 points from four wins five draws and nine defeats.
On the other hand, Penang, coached by their former star player Moroccan Merzagua Abderrazak, has had a magnificent season, and they are unshakeable at the top of the standings on an impressive 48 points from 16 wins. They only lost once.
Meanwhile, Razali is set to make two changes to the first team following the return of his top strikers Rainol Masaat and Mohd Arif Awang from suspension.
In midfield, new face Romeyrio Gascoigne Tony replaces Gerd Smith, while the back four is likely to comprise Mohd Shapawi Maiddin, Mohd Nazrien Sani, Zain Ambarog and Adnan Arman, while former President Cupper Afizan Paka will start in goal.
