PETALING JAYA: Sabah midfielder Stuart Wilkin has called for unity and focus as the Rhinos look to bounce back from a poor run of form ahead of the Super League Borneo derby against Kuching City at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu today.
Sabah have endured a frustrating spell in the Super League, drawing three matches — against Kuala Lumpur (1-1), Kelantan (0-0) and Melaka (1-1), before suffering heavy defeats to Johor Darul Ta’zim (0-8) and Negri Sembilan (0-3).
In the FA Cup, they have qualified for the quarter-finals after notching a 6-0 aggregate win but their round-of-16 second-leg display was a worry, as they were held 0-0 by A1 Semi-Pro club Bunga Raya last week.
The team’s inconsistency has left supporters concerned, but Wilkin insisted the players were determined to respond in one of the season’s most anticipated fixtures.
“It has been a hectic one week with lots of travel, so preparation now has been focused on rest and recovery so that we can be in the best physical shape for the challenge ahead,” said the 27-year-old English-born midfielder.
Wilkin, who has featured in five matches across all competitions this season and provided one assist, believes Sabah’s slow start has been affected by injuries and suspensions that had disrupted their rhythm.
“It hasn’t been an easy start to the season. It feels as though we have been unlucky with some injuries and suspensions to key players,” said Wilkin.
“We haven’t been able to have a settled team for each match and haven’t been able to get into our rhythm just yet.
“We’ve had to assess our playing style. It’s going to take some time to see it come together, but I’m confident we will get there.”
Stuart, who impressed for the national team in their recent 2-1 win over Singapore in an international friendly, scoring and assisting a goal while playing as a right wingback, knows that today’s clash carries emotional and competitive weight for both fans and players.
“Kuching are an in-form side and have been building each year. It’s going to be a tough match, especially in the middle (midfield) where they are very strong.
“We have done very well in this fixture in the past seasons while I’ve been at the club.
‘‘No matter our recent form, we will give it our best to get a good result.”
