Jelius wants hired guns to buck up

New Sabah Times

By FRANCIS XAVIER

MISSED ATTEMPT … Tambadau’s Korean defender Park Tae Su (2nd right) saw his attempt from just outside the six-yard box sail above the crossbar. – Photo Credit: Media Safa

 KOTA KINABALU: Tambadau’s ‘hired guns’ had better buck up or face the consequences of being axed when the mid-season transfer windows open next month. Head coach Jelius Ating is far from happy with their contributions, particularly after seeing his side squander numerous goal scoring chances in the one-all draw against UiTM FC at the Likas Stadium on Saturday. Jelius insists that his foreign signings failed to live up to his expectations and demands more from them.

 “I’m happy with the players who played especially the local boys who had rarely played but showed good displays. “Personally, it should be the (foreign) imports that must lift their games. They were signed because we expect them to be better than the locals and they are expected to make the difference.

 “In the Malaysian League, the standard of the local players are not much different. It is the quality of the foreign signings that will make the difference. “I’ve reminded the foreign players to improve…they must prove it,” said Jelius, who however is happy with his hard-working striker Serbian striker Rodoljub Paunovic, despite being the oldest among his foreign signings. The 33-year-old headed home the opener for Tambadau before UiTM import Robert Waly Lopez Mendy scored the equaliser with an 84th minute free kick from about 25 metres out.

 On the draw, Jelius said with better finishing, they could have won the tie. “I won’t fault the team’s effort because they played well and created many chances, especially in the second half…even in the first half we had a one-on-one situation with the (opposing) goalkeeper. “Obviously we did not take our chances well and when this happen, we had to settle for one point.

 “A single point is not bad but in the game just now, not only did we played at home but the number of chances we created made it impossible for us to not claim all three points…we should have won the game. “The plan was to try and not to drop points at home but the draw meant that we have lost two points. So, it is now five points dropped in our last two games having lost in our previous league match. We need to improve fast,” said Jelius.

 When asked on whether it was down to missing several key players who either missed the game through suspension or injuries, Jelius said it had nothing to do with the replacements as they did well despite not being regulars since the start of the campaign. Despite the dropped points, Tambadau remain second in the 11-team league on 15 points from nine matches which saw them register four wins, three draws and two losses.

 Johor Darul Ta’zim II (JDT II) lead on 18 points while UiTM FC, who along with JDT II have played one game less than the Tambadau, are third on 14 points. Tambadau will next face UKM FC in their second consecutive home tie at the Likas Stadium on April 20.