KOTA KINABALU: Sabah FC may have to play without three import pillars when they face Negeri Sembilan FC at the Likas Stadium here tomorrow night because they are down with injuries.
Head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee said two imported players from Brazil, striker Neto Pessoa and defender Jackson De Souza as well as striker Taiki Kagayama from Japan and several other players have yet to fully recover from their injuries.
“We still have some time before our Super League opening match kicks off… most importantly, we have to look in terms of their fitness before thinking about whether they will be fielded or otherwise.
We also should not be thinking only of the first or second game, but the following matches because the league period is quite long. I need to think long term to make sure all the players are at their best fitness level,” he said in a statement here today.
Commenting on their opening match, Kim Swee said Sabah FC were ready to host Negeri Sembilan FC.
He also reminded all his players not to underestimate the ability of Negeri Sembilan FC even though they have just been promoted to the Super League this season.
“They have a line-up of quality players and can be a threat. Similarly, our second match on March 9 against PJ City FC who have local players who are quite experienced,” he added.
— BERNAMA