File photo of the 2014 Sarawak first eleven paying tribute to the victims of flights MH370 and MH17 at Stadium Negeri last season. Five players in the photo are no longer with the team. — Photo by Chimon Upon
Robert Alberts
KUCHING: The Crocs face two major challenges in the 2015 Super League season.
First, the drastic change in team composition. Thirteen players left at the end of last year.
A few of those like Junior Eldstal, S Chanturu and Mohd Rashid Aya played key roles in Sarawak becoming Premier League champions in 2013 and then finishing in 7th spot in the elite Super League last year. Gabor Gyepes, the strong anchor in Sarawak’s defence in 2014, has also left.
Fresh faces for this season include three foreign imports – Ivan Fatic, Ronald Hikspoors and Billy Mehmet – and local players such as Nazri Kamal, G. Mathevan and Shreen Tambi.
The team has to gel quickly as the season progresses.
Head coach Robert Alberts seems to welcome the challenge.
“It is more or less a different team altogether but in no way that the team is a lesser team than the one last season. It is just relatively “new” and I think that it would be unfair to judge them at this stage,” he told The Borneo Post this week.
Looking on the bright side, he views it as a blessing in disguise as a new team is shaping up to possibly become another great Sarawak side that could bring back the glory days of yesteryears.
“We had a positive away result against Felda United last week. Although we drew 3-3 against them, our players played well and I can only see the team improving even more,” said Alberts on Sarawak’s season opener.
Second, the competition in the Super League is not getting any less intense.
There is no easy meat for the Crocs. Most teams in the top tier entered the new season with a fresh crop of foreign imports. It is a signal of their serious intention and ambition.
Take Sarawak’s next opponent Terengganu for instance. Head coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim could not have asked for a better set of new signings which include last season’s top Super League scorer Brazilian Paolo Ranger. He was reported to be “very pleased” with his new players after the Turtles scored a brilliant 2-0 win over Selangor in their season opener last week.
Kick off for the Sarawak vs Terengganu match at Stadium Negeri, Petra Jaya on Saturday is 8.45pm.