New Sabah Times
By FRANCIS XAVIER
KOTA KINABALU: Jelius Ating admits the clock is ticking in his search for import players, as he hopes to finalise his full squad before they leave for a pre-season tour to the Philippines next week.
The Sabah Rhinos head coach said with the new season set to kick off on February 2, there is not much time left to waste.
For the record, Sabah Rhinos will face off with JDT II in the Premier League season opener at the Likas Stadium.
“We have more or less completed the list of the local players. Our main worry now is looking for the right foreign footballers.
“We need to be a little cautious in looking for suitable players to fill in the foreign players’ quota … but hopefully we will be able to do it by the end of the week,” said Jelius when contacted yesterday.
Serbian striker Rodoljub Paunovic is the only foreign player in Jelius Ating’s squad as he has a contract until the middle of the year, leaving another three foreign slots to fill.
Jelius said at the moment, only South Korean defensive midfielder Heo Jaenyeong, who is eyeing a second stint with the Rhinos, is still training with the squad.
He revealed that another South Korean, a defender, also impressed him, during his trials here recently. But Jelius said he would make a decision on the Korean defender after assessing new arrivals vying for the foreign players’ slots.
“We are expecting three more to arrive here this week and that another hopeful, a midfielder from Australia, is already in town and we hope that he will come for the trials.
“From the many who have attended the trials previously, the Korean defender seemed to fit the bill but we haven’t made any decision yet,” Jelius said, adding that if they don’t find suitable candidates then they will be contacting him (Korean defender).
“It is the same with Heo. However, I’m not ruling out on using two imports from South Korea. The former State captain admitted that the search for foreign imports had affected the team’s preparations since the team training also doubled up as trials.
“We had invited Penang to come over for a pre-season game but they could not so the trip to the Philippines next week will be extra crucial for our preparations.
“That is why I’m hoping to finalise the names this week so that we will have a full squad for the two friendly matches,” he said.
