New Sabah Times
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabahawks Juniors are going for broke in their bid to keep their slim hopes alive when they take on Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School at the Bandar Penawar Stadium in Johor today.
The State Under-21 side knows too well that they must win this penultimate tie of the season at all costs, failing means their hope of making the quarter-finals will be evaporated.
“We all know that this is a must-win game, and I want the players to give all the best and get all the three points,” said Datuk Juil Nuatim.
“Even though on paper, we have the least chance of making it through, but in football anything can happen, so it is important for us to fight until the end,” the Sabahawks Juniors team manager added.
The Sabahawks Juniors are one of the four teams that are fighting for the remaining two quarter-finals slots.
The other three teams are Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Penang.
Both Kedah and Negeri Sembilan have the upper hand over Penang and Sabahawks Juniors.
Kedah are currently in seventh on 51 points followed by Negeri Sembilan (50), Penang (48) and Sabahawks Juniors (47) in eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.
Nicking one win from their remaining two matches should be enough to put Kedah through into the last eight while Negeri Sembilan need four points from the possible six to clinch their berth.
As for Penang, it’s an identical scenario for them as Sabahawks Juniors. They must win their remaining battles and hope that Negeri Sembilan fumble in one of their matches.
If Kedah and Negeri Sembilan fail to collect maximum points in both their remaining matches and Penang won their remaining matches, then they will make it through.
As for Sabahawks Juniors, like Penang, they must win both their remaining matches against Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School and Sarawak (home – July 4), and hoping that the results involving Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Penang favour them.
Today, Penang is at home to Perak while Kedah take on Terengganu on the road before they (Kedah and Penang) take on each other at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar in July 4.
Negeri Sembilan face lowly Police at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium and will end their challenge by taking on Bukit Jalil Sports Schools.
The Sabahawks Juniors will go into today’s tie with a full squad that also includes Premier League based midfielder Didie Arizal Ibrahim.
They also welcome back defender Rawilson Batiul and goalkeeper Robson Rendy Rining from suspension and the duo are part of the 17-member squad that made the trip to Johor yesterday.
Head coach Justin Ganai is expected to bring the duo back straight into his first team.
