Kota Kinabalu: Kota Kinabalu are determined to avenge their loss to Kinabatangan in the final of the 2017 Saga Games when the two teams face each other again in the semi-final of the Safa Cup football tournament at the Penampang Stadium this afternoon (Friday) at 3.30pm. Coach Roslan Wasli who also coached the team two years ago that lost 2-4 on penalties said it is time, especially for some of the players who played in the final to settle the score but at the same time is wary of the threat posed by Kinabatangan.
"We have come this far in this tournament and I am sure the players especially those who lost in the Saga Games two years back will try their very best to beat them tomorrow to qualify for the final. "I believe there are no favourites tags at this stage of the tournament. We know Kinabatangan are a very good team as proven by their 2-0 win over Sipitang in the final group match. "We will be very cautious and will not take them lightly.
I believe it will be a 50-50 chance for both teams," he said on Thursday. He also said he may make some changes to the team despite their impressive 5-1 win over Kota Marudu in the final group match on Wednesday. "It was a good win for us against Kota Marudu. I was very pleased with the performance of the players and the finishing was getting better, but still, I may make some necessary changes as we are facing a different opponent and we need a different approach strategy wise," he added.
Meanwhile, he also defended the team's decision to protest against Tawau after they lost 1-2 on Tuesday. "We filed the complaint not because we have lost the game. Win or lose is part of the game and we can accept that, but competition rules must be respected. "We followed what we are entitled to do after finding out that there was an ineligible player in the team against us. "Some people may not happy with our action but we are entitled to the right to lodge the report and I believe it is for the good of the game," he stressed. - GL Oh
