By FRANCIS XAVIER
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Rhinos are taking a well-earned two-week break after recording their best ever achievement in almost a decade by reaching the Malaysia Cup semi-finals.
Despite not being able to make the final, head coach Jelius Ating said the players deserved to be given time off from football before they begin their preparations for the new season.
“It has been a hectic season for the team.
We have been training since late last year, and now I think, they need to take a short break from football,” said Jelius, when contacted yesterday.
“We had an easy workout on Monday, and then in the evening, we attended a team dinner hosted by our team manager (Datuk Juil Nuatim) at a local restaurant.
“So, they will take a break from today (yesterday) and would report back for training on November 5,” he added.
On his plan for the team, Jelius said there is not much he could do at least for now as most of the players’ contracts will end in November.
He said that all his four import players, Puerto Rican forward Pito Ramos, Serbian striker Rodoljub Paunovic, Zambian defender Francis Kasonde and Japanese midfielder Keisuke Ogawa will still be around.
“Pito, Kasonde and Ogawa will be around until their contracts end in November. As for Paunovic, his contract runs until the middle of next season,” said Jelius.
“The Sabah FA management has yet to set any date for a meeting to discuss their plan, but I believe it will be done at the earliest possible time.
For now, we just have to wait and see,” said Jelius, whose fate in the team will also be discussed in the meeting.
Sabah Rhinos ended their campaign finishing sixth in the Premier League while in the FA Cup, they were ousted by Johor Darul Ta’zim in the second round after losing 2-1 in extra time.
In the Malaysia Cup campaign, they did rather well by reaching the semi-finals where they lost 7-2 on aggregate to Perak, who will take on Terengganu FC in the final at the Shah Alam Stadium on Oct 27.
