KUCHING, Aug 13 — Sarawak are expected to face Terengganu with a depleted squad but coach Robert Alberts has not written off his team’s chances in their opening Malaysia Cup match tomorrow.
The match is expected to be a tense affair at the State Stadium in Petra Jaya although Sarawak will be playing without its two imports, namely Bosnian striker Muamer Salibasic and Hassan El Mohamad from Lebanon while defender Rony Harun is also on the croc list.
The Dutchman said like any other team they are also determined to start the Malaysia Cup competition on a winning note.
“Obviously we want to win the first match in the competition and collect three points,” said Alberts before the team started its training session at the State Stadium, here today.
Alberts said Salibasic has not fully recovered from an injury while Hassan is nursing an ankle injury while Rony will be serving a one match suspension after collecting three yellow cards in the Super League competition. Without the two foreign strikers Alberts said he would have to rely on Aussie striker Ryan Griffiths and Hungarian Gabor Gyepes in central defence and the local players.“We are used to playing without all three foreign players in the Super League and I am confident the local players will rise to the occasion,” he added.
The much anticipated match is expected to attract 25,000 fans and supporters to the State Stadium in Petra Jaya and Sarawak FA secretary-general Abdullah Julaihi said 25,000 tickets have been printed and would go on sale starting today. — Bernama
