Tough mission: Kuching City’s Petrus Shitembi in training ahead of their Malaysia Cup round of 16 second-leg match against Sabah today. — Kuching City FC
PETALING JAYA: Overturning a 0-3 deficit is never going to be easy, but Kuching City’s new playmaker Petrus Shitembi is hopeful.
The Namibian international wishes that his side can conjure something special when they face Sabah in the Malaysia Cup round of 16 second-leg match at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu today.
It won’t be easy as Sabah have made Likas their fortress this season and are the undisputed favourites to get into the quarter-finals.
The Rhinos won the first-leg 3-0 in Kuching, making it a near impossible task for their opponents to overturn the tie.
But the 31-year-old Shitembi wants his team, the II Gattos (The Cats) to give a good account of themselves.
“The boys are looking forward to this very important match but a difficult one, given the circumstances,” said Shitembi.
“We will take the game as any other, go there with hopes of getting a good result first and making sure we give a worthy show.”
Kuching City have not been at their best this season and as a result, they are languishing at the bottom place of the Super League table with seven points from 18 matches.
And with eight games left, the Borneo club need to get maximum points in every game to avoid relegation.
It was a surprise when Shitembi signed for them but he defended his move. He needed fresh challenge to help his team from being relegated.
“The team aren’t in the most favourable position at the moment and I think challenges in life are what that make us grow, so this situation is no different.
“The team have been very welcoming. They have ambitions and aspirations and it’s exciting to be part of that process.
“I hope to work hard and help the team finish in a favourable position.”
