Kota Kinabalu: Former Rhinos Heo Jae-Nyeong (pic) is back here to try his luck to play with the team again in next season's Premier League. The 26-year-old South Korean who joined the team back in 2017 but was subsequently dropped in 2018 due to injury is among three imports who turned up for the first trial conducted on Tuesday evening at the Likas Stadium.
The other two present were defender Kelal Ogal Kaoga from Kenya and Englishman Patrick Elamenji, who can play in both defensive and midfield roles. Head coach Jelius Ating who is expecting more to come in the coming days said he will be very cautious in selecting the right players for the team. "We will definitely be very careful to select our import players so that only the best will play for the team next season.
"Based on the present situation, our priority now is to look for imports to fill in the position of defence, midfield and striker," he said. Sabah are currently left with only Serbian striker, Rodoljub Paunovic in the team whose contract will only be expire in mid season. Jelius also said the team will train until the end of the week before taking a break for the Christmas holidays. Meanwhile, Malaysian Football League (MFL) officials led by its Chief Operating Officer Mohd Shaik Mohd Shazli paid a visit to Sabah Football Association (Safa) on Monday.
The visit was to brief Safa on the Malaysian League next season and about the rules of the game, the media's role and function of MFL. Among those present were Andrew Laban representing Safa's supreme council, Secretary General Andrew Majanggim, Premier League Team Manager Henry Saimpon, head coach Jelius Ating, assistant coach Burhan Ajui, Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex manager Wilfred Young, General Coordinator Jellysius Saimpon and Michael Gantali as well as several other Safa officials and staff. - GL Oh
New Sabah Times
By FRANCIS XAVIER
KOTA KINABALU: Heo Jaenyeong is in the frame for a comeback with the Sabah Rhinos.
The Korean midfielder is one of three foreign hopefuls to have arrived in the state capital to attend trials with the state Premier League squad.
The fit-again Heo, 26, who quit the team due to injury midway through the recent 2018 campaign, has rejoined his former team-mates in training since last night.
He is joined by Kelal Ogal Kaoga and Englishman Patrick Elamenji. Both are defenders.
Head coach Jelius Ating when contacted said more players (foreign), will be coming to attend trials with the team in the coming days.
“We will be cautious in selecting our foreign players. We will make sure that they fit into the team. We will be picking players who we believe could strengthen our squad,” said Jelius, adding that they will hire foreign players based on the team’s needs, which is a defender, midfielder and striker.
At the moment, Serbian striker Rodoljub Paunovic is still under their payroll until the middle of next year’s campaign. Jelius also said that the team are currently doing their pre-season training until the end of the week before giving them a Christmas break.
Meanwhile, Sabah FA officials were given a briefing by the Malaysian Football League (MFL), which operates and manages the Super League and Premier League among other entities, representatives yesterday.
The briefing that was conducted by MFL Chief Operations Officer Mohd Shazli Shaik Mohd, touched on the competition rules and regulations, media role and functions of the MFL among others.
According to him, the briefing which was done to each state was among the new approaches introduced by MFL to provide clearer and detailed information to associations or clubs for the betterment of football in the country.
“Previously the briefing was attended by representatives from associations or clubs in Peninsular Malaysia.
Among present were newly-appointed Safa secretary general Andrew Majanggim, his assistant Andrew Laban, Sabah Rhinos newly-appointed team manager Henry Saimpon, Jelius, assistant coach Burhan Ajui, general coordinators Jellysius Saimpon and Michael Gantali.
The officers from MFL, formerly known as the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP), also conducted a check on Sabah’s preferred home venue – the Likas Stadium.
