Fringe players may get chance to impress

Fringe players may get chance to impress

Published on: Thursday, September 14, 2023

By: GL Oh

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Sabah FC’s players during a training session.

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah FC may have to do without the services of four first team players in their  Malaysia Cup first leg quarter-final match against Perak FC at Likas Stadium tomorrow (Friday) night. Head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee said on Wednesday that Stuart Wilkin, Darren Lok, Daniel Ting and Dominic Tan who were on national duty recently are unlikely to be fielded. According to him, it is important for the four players to get enough rest to get back their full fitness ahead of the busy schedule including the AFC Cup competition to start later this month. Despite their absence, he said the players called up should be up to the task. “We have an important game this Friday and we are going to field a few players who have not been featured for a period of time. “However, this should not make much difference as all of them have gone through the same training process since the beginning of the year. “It is important that they have to play as a team and display high commitment in this match. “So in terms of preparation and tactics, I don’t see that we will have many problems even with the absence of the four players involved with the national team,” he said. He called on the players who are fielded to be focused and must take advantage of home support to get a good result to prepare for the return leg. “The players are reminded not to take it easy or be too comfortable even though we are playing here at Likas Stadium. “We need to be careful as Perak FC had upset Kedah FC in the previous round and the players must be committed and focused to seek an important win before the second away leg.” * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.