KUCHING: Sarawak head coach Mohd Zaki Shaikh Ahmad is highly confident the state team will rise to the challenge in the Malaysian League this season.
The players’ commitment has given him every reason to believe they are ready and able to take the fight to their opponents.
Zaki, 51, who once led the national team, said Sarawak had a number of players capable of spearheading the state’s challenge.
“In fact, I can see the potential young players pitching in during the season. They just need more match exposure by playing in more competitions ,” he told thesundaypost’s sister paper Utusan Borneo.
The Sarawak team, under the management of FAS FMG Sdn Bhd, are lining up 21 players, including six imports from Semenanjung Malaysia, for the new season.
They are local players Abdul Gani Annuar, Mazwandi Zekeria, Sahran Abdul Samad, Mohamad Fareez Tukijo, Zamri Morshidi, Azizan Saperi, Mohd Hairol Moktar, Sufizal Ismail, Abang Mohamad Za’afari Abang Othman, Mohd Fadly Kassim, Mohd Dzulazlan Ibrahim, Firdaus Morshidi, Mohd Shahrol Saperi, Mohd Hadera Bakri and Habib Mohd Arshad.
The imports comprise former national striker Afendi Abdul Malik and former Sarawak players Wong Sai Kong, Mohd Suffian Abdul Rahman, Azralan Azmi, Rafiz Abu Bakar and Abdul Aziz Ismail.
Although Zaki has taken charge of the squad only recently, he is quite confident his boys will give one hundred per cent in every game.
“Apart from the intensive training, we also played a few friendlies in Semenanjung last month. Although the results may not too satisfactory, I’m proud of the way the players acquitted themselves.”
In the friendlies, Sarawak lost 0-2 to Selangor, drew 0-0 with Melaka and Kuala Lumpur, lost 3-4 to KL Plus and beat PKNS Selangor 1-0.
Zaki pointed out that the presence of imports like Sai Kong, Afendi, Azralan, Rafiz, Aziz and goalie Suffian would strengthen the team.
“The experience of Afendi and Sai Kong is valuable to the team,” he said.