Aiman Nazirmuddin
Football Tribe Malaysia
Sabah will include three key players when they entertain UKM FC at Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, tomorrow night in the Malaysian Premier League (second division). The returnees include team captain Rawilson Batuil and Mohd Azzizan Nordin, who had previously been suspended, and Ricco Nigel Milus, who was set aside due to injury.
Team manager, Henry Soimpon, said their presence was a good development for Sabah, who have failed to win in their last three games.
Elsewhere, Kelantan midfielder Nik Akif will miss his side’s match against Negeri Sembilan tomorrow after being suspended by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for two matches because of his behavior during the match against Sarawak, April 6. The FAM Disciplinary Committee said in their statement that Nik Akif was found guilty when he assaulted Sarawak’s Mohd. Badrul Hisham Mohamad Hussein.
Meanwhile, in the Super League, Pahang will need to rely on strikers Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Jose Eduardo when they visit the Perak Stadium in Ipoh tomorrow night, after losing their venomous in-form attacker Dickson Nwakaeme. Nwakaeme had to be sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained during the FA Cup games. Coach Dollah Salleh said the Nigerian striker needed a period of at least two weeks to recover.
This is good news for defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, who lead Pahang by two points. They will host PNKS FC tomorrow night in hopes of extending their lead atop the Super League table.