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| SABAH’S TOP SCORER … Koh Traore (right) will be the lone striker |
Sarawak clinched the title in the League’s penultimate tie on June 24 after trouncing Kuala Lumpur 4-0, and is the only team that has yet to suffer any defeat this season after registering an impressive 17 wins and four draws. They will be hoping to stay unbeaten and keep their near-perfect record intact, with their Borneo arch rivals Sabah, their last hurdle.
Sabah discards, Mafry Balang, Bobby Gonzales and Ronny Harun, who now don Sarawak colours, are all expected to take on their former teammates. Sabah caretaker coach Johnny Dominicus when contacted yesterday said they are looking forward to the clash, and are determined to end their season on a good note.
“Our target is to try to win the game. Furthermore, it will be great to be the only team to beat the champions,” said Johnny. “Although we are in a good position to finish fifth, but we are not taking any chances. We need another one point to seal our position. So we have to take the game seriously and go for a win. “Furthermore, victory would also help instill greater confidence in the team ahead of our Malaysia Cup playoff, which is on July 10,” he added.
For the record, only KL Pos Malaysia FC could unseat Sabah from the fifth spot. However, it looks pretty unlikely, as they not only need to beat KL Sime Darby in an away battle, but at the same time need a favour from Sarawak to edge Sabah. Sabah is currently in fifth on 30 points, while KL Pos Malaysia FC sixth with 27 points.
If they win, and Sabah loses, they would pip Sabah on goal difference. For the record, Sabah managed to steal a point from Kuching after the first round encounter ended in a 0-0 draw last March 8. Today, Johnny said he is likely to make minor changes to his first team. Shahril Sa’ari will be retained as his ball stopper while Sumardi Hajalan, who has not seen action for months now, will return into the first team and would start at left back ahead of Julamri Muhammad, while Shahrul Azhar Ture on the right.
Shahril Faisal and Rosdin Wasli would be at the centre of the defence. Both Alto Linus and Shahrudin Yakup will also be retained and would be deployed at the right and left flanks respectively with Zainizam Marjan, Mohd Fazilidin Khalid and Abdelfatah Safi manning the centre of midfield leaving the team’s top scorer Koh Traore as the lone striker.
Syamsuri Mustapha, Wan Md Alif, Hardy Charles Parsi, Leopold Alfonso Otong, Mohd Farid Saibun and Mohd Hafizulldin Noor are likely to be among Johnny’s top 18 for the clash.
