Sarawak’s 2014 Super League campaign kicks off tonight against ATM at Selayang
KUCHING: After months of anticipation, all will be unveiled as Sarawak take on ATM at the Selayang Stadium tonight for their Super League curtain-raiser. Like all teams in the Super League, both sides are eager to show their fans what their reinforcements and new signings can do to help their cause among the nation’s elite. Sarawak head coach Robert Alberts has not set a specific target for the 2014 season – though there have been media talk of somewhere between top f light survival and a top six finish – among the 12 teams in the Super League. For tonight’s match, Alberts might field the same side that thrashed Premier League side SPA Putrajaya FC 5-0 last week in a friendly match. New players like Gabor Gyepes, Milorad Janjus and Mohd Lot Abu Hassan are expected to make their debuts. ATM a r e c er t ainly qui t e formidable. An interesting fact is that both teams have been recent Premier League champions – ATM in 2012 and Sarawak in 2013. Upon promotion to the top tier, Armed Forces did well enough to fi nish sixth last season. They are strengthened with 10 new signings this season. A conf ident head coach B. Sathianathan, an ex-national coach, has been quoted as saying that he would consider himself and his team a failure if they fail to win at least one trophy this year. Juan Arostegui, who was a former Malaysia Cup winner with the now defunct MPPJ Selangor seven years ago, is scheduled to make an emotional return to the Malaysian football arena as the Argentinian striker dons the ATM colours. Both teams look evenly-matched but Sarawak will need to work hard on their away form to win this clash which kicks of f at 8.45pm. After their team’s unbeaten and victorious Premier League c amp a i g n f o l l owe d by a n impressive run in the Malaysia Cup last year, Sarawak fans are anxious to see how well the Crocs will be when pitted against the big boys of the Super League. Milorad Janjus Let the battle begin!