PETALING JAYA: Sabah’s new South Korean sensation Park Jung-bin has quickly become a fan favourite, and he is out to cement that status when the Rhinos take on Penang today.
Sabah host Penang in a Super League clash at Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, aiming for a second straight win to kick off their season in perfect fashion.
The Rhinos opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Sabah City on Aug 23, with the 32-year-old Jung-bin pulling the strings up front through his direct running, close control and set-piece deliveries.
He scored the third goal in injury time (94th minute), while the first two for Sabah were delivered by New Zealand rightback Dane Ingham (26th) and striker Darren Lok (89th).
The former VfL Wolfsburg forward, who joined from Cambodian club Visakha, has settled quickly into head coach Juan Torres Garrido’s system, and much more is expected of him as the season unfolds.
“Fitting into the team quickly is always the top priority for a debutant.
“The coach and my teammates really created a comfortable environment for me to play my game,” said Jung-bin, a former South Korea Under-23 international.
“Even though it had been a while since my last official league match, my sharpness and competitive drive came back right away.
“Most importantly, I’m glad I brought the energy up front that the team needed. I think we got off to a great start.”
Asked how the Malaysian league compares with others he has played in, Jung-bin admitted there were challenges, but said the freedom given to him by Garrido has allowed him to express himself on the pitch.
“Moving freely in the attack, breaking down spaces, and setting the tempo is the role I’ve always been confident in.
“Having played in various leagues across Europe and Asia, adapting is not a problem for me. With all that experience under my belt, I know exactly what I need to do on the pitch.”
Jung-bin is already looking ahead to today’s assignment, though he is wary of the threat Penang pose.
“We can’t take Penang lightly. Since they lost their last home match, they’ll push extra hard to get a win this time.”
