MELAKA – The compatibility of Sabah FC’s three new import players will be tested in three friendly matches, which will take place in Thailand, starting January 28, said the team head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee.
He said that his main line-up will leave for Bangkok on January 27, to play against visiting clubs from Korea, Thailand and Denmark.
“These three matches are quite important to ensure we get a rhythm, especially with the presence of many new players in the team.
“Hence I hope that, with the training in Thailand, I will be able to form a good combination before the other matches,” he said when met by reporters at his family’s residence here today in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.
Sabah FC signed three new import players – former Gremio Esportivo Brasil player Gabriel Peres, former IBV club player in the Icelandic league Telmo Castanheira, and former Kelantan import player from Nigeria Jacob Njoku – in early January.
The presence of these three players thus strengthens the Rhinos, who are now with five import players, including Saddil Ramdani and Park Taesu, whose contracts have been extended.
Meanwhile, the 52-year-old coach admitted that he needed a little more time to strengthen the performance of his players, despite them having undergone training for three weeks.
“Basically we need three to eight weeks of training to ensure the players are at a high enough fitness level.
“We hope players can continue training because every player in Sabah FC is important, given that this year we have to play many matches,” he said. – Bernama, January 22, 2023
