Police duty for Sarawak

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Coach confident ahead of Premier League opener as new season kicks off

UNITED WE STAND: Sarawak players and backroom staff with FAS FMG Sdn Bhd chairman Datu Sudarsono Osman (seated centre) and officials from FAS and FAS FMG Sdn Bhd. • Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

UNITED WE STAND: Sarawak players and backroom staff with FAS FMG Sdn Bhd chairman Datu Sudarsono Osman (seated centre) and officials from FAS and FAS FMG Sdn Bhd. • Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

KUCHING: Sarawak will face their first test of the new Malaysia League season when they entertain Police in their Premier League opener at Sarawak Stadium here at 8.15pm tonight.

Coach Mohd Zaki Shaikh Ahmad said although nothing much was known about the strength of their opponents, he was confident that his boys would go all out to secure an opening win.

“Judging from the intensive training sessions and friendlies played in Semenanjung Malaysia, I believe they will give their 100 per cent … they are very eager for action,” he said in a press conference yesterday.

According to Zaki, he would be fielding the best line-up, which would include former national striker Efendi Malik and Zamri Morshidi upfront.

“We will field our best eleven in our first match tonight and use either the 4-4-2 or 4-4-1 formation, with our attack spearheaded by two strikers,” he said.

The former national coach said apart from the two experienced strikers, Sarawak also had two young strikers in Mohd Hadera Bakri and Azralan Azmi.

“The four strikers will be given the chance to change partners when we find the best combination,” he said.

“Although our strikeforce is not so formidable now, I do believe that they can polish their finishing touches,” he added.

Zaki said the defence would be manned by Mohd Fadly Kassim, Wong Sai Kong, Firdaus Morshidi, Mazwandi Zekeria and former national youth goalkeeper Mohd Suffian Abdul Rahman.

“We are not facing any problem in the defence as I believe that the experienced defenders can play their respective roles well,” said Zaki.

In midfield, Zaki will probably field Abang Mohd Za’afari Abang Othman, Rafiz Abu Bakar, Mohd Dzulazlan Ibrahim and Mohd Fareez Tukijo.

Two members of the squad, Mohd Shahrol Saperi and Mohd Hairol Moktar, will not be seeing action as they are nursing injuries.

“However, I am very sure that our team will give their full focus and attention for the whole 90 minutes of play and entertain our fans and supporters who are expected to flood the stadium tonight.” he said.

Meanwhile, FAS FMG Sdn Bhd director Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said Sarawak, who comprised mostly last season’s President Cup players, had begun to mature as a team.

“Players like Shahrol, Azizan, Mazwandi who are all under 21 years old, have matured into better players and I strongly believe they can give a good account of themselves this season,” the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) secretary said.

“Given one or two years, I am confident Sarawak will become a strong team to be reckoned with in the Malaysia League,” he   added.