Sabah not worried about taking on the high-flying Canaries

BY RIZAL ABDULLAH

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah did not lie idle during the recent fasting month. Instead, the Rhinos went on a three-match playing tour of Hong Kong and came back with a two wins and a defeat. 

Now, they are ready to face high-riding Kedah, who will be without their ace in the pack – international Akmal Rizal Rakhli. The striker is recuperating from a knee surgery. 

But Sabah team manager Joehari Ayub does not think that the absence of Akmal from the Kedah side will make things easier for his side in the Malaysia Cup semi-final first-leg match at the Likas Stadium here tonight. 

“I am more concerned with my team. There is no point worrying about what your opponents have up their sleeves and forget all about your own team,” said Joehari. 

IN THE FRAY: Keith Gumbs is the only foreigner retained by Sabah and the popular St Kitts and Nevis striker will spearhead the attack against Kedah in the Malaysia Cup semi-final first leg tie at the Likas Stadium tonight.

“We have been in two Malaysia Cup finals over the last two years. This is something that is rubbing on us. We are all fired up to face Kedah.” 

New coach Jose Garrido has revamped the team after taking over the hot seat from Englishman Peter Butler, who quit in a huff after a fallout with the management and several senior players. 

Sabah have a clean record at home in the Malaysia Cup and they are in no mood to surrender it. But in the Super League, they were beaten 1-2 by Kedah at the Likas Stadium on July 29. 

If Kedah have been the revelation in the Malaysia Cup thus far this season, so are Sabah, whose record of reaching the final in 2002 and last year speaks of their charm in the country’s premier football tournament. 

Sabah knocked out the more fancied Perak in the last two seasons to qualify for the final and, last year, they eliminated Kedah in the quarter-finals. 

Joehari said that past results counted for nothing and warned his side against taking it easy against a Kedah side without Akmal. 

“Kedah are a strong side who have showed good form in the Malaysia Cup. Reaching the semi-finals speaks of their ability and we have to be at our best to face them,” he said. 

Sabah have revamped their team with several major changes for the Malaysia Cup. Among those out of the team were Josiah Seton and Robert Gaspar. 

The new foreign signings were Brazilian Andrezinho Esposito and St Kitts and Nevis’ Ian Lake. The only foreigner retained by Sabah was their popular striker from St Kitts and Nevis – Keith Gumbs.