Sabah KDMM FC banking on ex-state players

BY FRANCIS XAVIER Francis@newsabahtimes.com.my

ALL SYSTEMS GO ... Sabah KDMM FC boss Peter, Henry and assistant manager Ebby Roy inspects some of the team gear while Andrew gives a briefing of the team’s final preparation for today’s match.

 KOTA KINABALU: Sabah KDMM FC will be banking on the experience of former state captain Rosdin Wasli and midfielder Zuraindey Jumai to guide them to victory when they take on PKNP FC of Perak in a FAM Cup Group B opener at the Keningau Stadium today. The duo will be joined by other ex-state players, defender Rezuan Rezuan Mohd Radzi and goalkeeper Endre S. Tipay.

 The match is scheduled to kick off at 4.15pm. Apart from the foursomes, Sabah KDMM FC will also be strengthened by a number of former Reserve League and State Under-19 players. Among them are Denisi Mekhadan, Mohd Ashrafi Abdan, Anwari Mohd Tajuddin, Benerlys Raim and Ian James Wong.

The FAM Cup new boys is also managed by former state players in Henry Soimpon, who is the team manager and another ex-state player Andrew Majanggim who will be the head coach. Andrew, when contacted yesterday believes in the capabilities of his players and that he is quite confident of notching a positive result.

 “Although majority of our players are still young and will for the first time taste league action, I believe they have what it takes to do a good job. We are ready for action, we hope to get three points in this game,” said Andrew. “The environment is pretty much encouraging in the team, and we are thankful to the club president Datuk Peter Anthony for his all out support in assuring that everything is on the right track in facing this FAM Cup challenge,” he added.

 Andrew said that he rather wants to see his charges play to their true capability rather than to worry about the opponent, whom he had little knowledge about their strength. “I hope that the players can give their fullest concentration. I also hope that they will be able to execute our game plan. “We have quite a number of experience players in our side such as Rosdin and Zuraindey, and hope they will be able to guide the young one during the game,” Andrew said.

 Meanwhile, Henry said it is always good to start their season with a win. “I believe that our coaching staff headed by Andrew has got something in their sleeves in searching for full points,” he said. “I hope football fans in the interior and its surrounding area will come in full force to support the team.

This is a historical moment for Keningau, as this will be for the first time ever that the Keningau Stadium is hosting the national league. I believe that with good support from the local fans, it could help the team to perform better,” Henry said. Meanwhile, Sabah’s other representative in the country’s third tier, DYS FC will take on season campaigners Penang’s Sungai Ara FC in a Group A challenge at the Sungai Ara Mini Stadium at 4.45pm today.