By FRANCIS XAVIER
KOTA KINABALU: About a dozen hopefuls are currently undergoing training with the Sabah Rhinos, hoping to earn a place in the state Premier League side for the new season, which is expected to kick off in February.
Among the familiar faces are Mafry Balang, Shafie Talib and quite a number of players from either the President’s Cup or the Youth Cup 2017 squads.
These players are being identified or invited by head coach Jelius Ating as he hopes to boost his squad with experience as well as young players.
Mafry, who could be deployed at the backline as well as in midfield, has been donning Penang colours for the last few seasons.
It is believed that the out-of-contract Mafry is keen to make a return to the state team. However, it is reliably learnt that nothing has been finalised as yet.
Nevertheless, he has been seen training with the team for almost a week now.
Shafie, who last donned Sabah Rhinos colours in 2016, played for KDMM FC in the FAM Cup this season. Like Mafry, the Pitas-born striker, who is also comfortable at the flanks, is also out of contract.
Ex-President’s Cupper, Rusmanizam Roseland too will be hoping to don Sabah colours once again. The defender played for Melaka United for the past two seasons.
Three President’s Cup players namely Devid Ansarui, Stanley Sulong and Hamran Peter were also seen training with the team, as well two players from the state 2017 Under-19 squad, namely Evan Wensley and Mohd Aidil Safi. The rest are midfielder Melky Balang, who donned KDMM FC colours for the past two seasons.
Mohd Razli Puteh, who signed for PKNP FC of Perak in the just concluded season before being loaned out to MOF FC, is also hoping to land a contract with the team, likewise Mazlan Yahya from Labuan, who was part of the Selangor PKNS FC Reserve League squad 2017.
The other two players are Amir Nasir from Tawau and former Reserve League player Justin Samaan, who emerged as the top scorer in the final round of the just concluded Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman Inter-District Football tournament 2017.
The rest of the players are from this year’s squad, including the two Koreans Lee Gil-Hoon and Heo Jaenyeong.
Jelius said that he will have a good look at the hopefuls when they take on the visiting Indonesia university team early next month.
“We are scheduled to play against them three times, early next month. Besides having a good look at the locals, we will also be trying out some foreign players,” Jelius said when met at the Likas Stadium yesterday.
