Milomir expects team to gel following friendly matches

Source: New Sabah Times

 

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Premier League squad is heading to neighbouring Indonesia as their pre-season preparations go into full swing.

Yesterday, Seslija Milomir and his boys boarded the AirAsia flights in two stages due to the unavailability of seats before they regroup upon their arrival in the national capital for a two-week friendly tour.

The Sabah head coach will be hoping that things will get better for his side upon their return from the trip, where they are scheduled to play at least four friendly matches.

 

Milo said he will be using this trip to experiment all his players and try to get them to gel well together as a team.

At the moment, Milo also stressed that he is not really looking at the results, but more of getting the team ready for the new season.

“This trip is to get them ready (as a team) for the new season,” he said when met prior to their departure yesterday.

Two of their most recent games saw them defeat Keningau Selection 2-1 before losing to the same side 1-0 in the second fixture.

“While it is always good to win, results do not concern me at the moment. Everyone needs to understand that we are trying to prepare the team for next season and that’s what we are doing in the pre-season.

“It is all about getting the players into shape, creating understanding and to experiment as well as try all the players to see their qualities and how they can fit into the team.

“We don’t do experiments when the season starts … the team must be ready in all aspects by then.

To a question, Milo said that he was happy with the progress the team has made thus far.

He said they are shaping up well in their pre-season and that they will only get better.

He insisted that after this trip, his side will get better.

“Rexjeson for example … he was very good playing for Keningau against us the other day but when I called him up to join us for training, he was not the same footballer.

“We need to give players like him the chance to develop because I know and we all know the talent that he has,” said Milo, adding: “Maybe in three-four months he will improve … we’ll see.”

Milo brings along with him a squad of 24 players for the pre-season tour which include former skipper Mohd Reithuddin Emran as well as former President Cupper Rexjeson Pitirus.

The rest are Zainizam Marjan, Md Farid Ideris, Maxius Musa, Irwan Jamil, Mohd Fazli Paat, Wan Mohd Hoesne, Rosdin Wasli, Julamri Muhammad, Didie Arizal Ibrahim, Dendy Lowa, Varathan Arumugam, Mohd Redzuan Nawi, Mohd Ezaidy Khadar, Sabri Sahar, Isma Alif Mohd Salim, Mohd Zain Hafizi Idris, Pritam Singh Charun Singh and Mohd Sharul Chankui as well as foreign signings Altin Grbovic, Pedrag Pocuca and Sreeko Mitrovic.

The other player is Azizan Kadir but it was learnt he is not be travelling with the squad as he has opted out to further his studies.

For the record, Sabah will be playing in the Second Division football competition Premier League and were recently drawn to meet Pahang Kuantan FA in the FA Cup first round.