Crocs a notch better
KUCHING: Sarawak had stepped up another level when they played in the first match of the Super League against Kuala Lumpur from the game they used to play in the Premier League as the players had made big steps in improving themselves.
The addition of nine local imports and one foreign player in the 2-0 win against Kuala Lumpur had helped strengthen the team, said coach Robert Alberts after the match on Tuesday night.
“Its a nice start and a win we totally deserve even though we dominated the first half but could not produce the goals.” “In the second half, I told them in the half-time to increase their tempo a little bit more in their attacks and that changed the course of the game with the two goals,” said Alberts who believes Kuala Lumpur could have been hit for six or seven if not for the many misses by the Sarawak players.
“In the first half we dominated, we had many chances and it’s a relief to find the goals for it could be like the Chelsea-Sunderland game with the crazy result where Chelsea dominated but lost through one goal.” Alberts also said the timing of the substitution was right as he brought on K.Ravindran to give the team the right tonic.
“The timing was good for we at first wanted to take out Zamri (Morshidi) and put Rashid (Aya) to the right but then Ashri Chuchu complained of a knock and we replaced him with Ravi to add more pace on the flank attack.” Alberts said it was fantastic for Ravindran and Hairol Mokhtar - a defender -to score as the players had all had their individual goal target.
He was a little worried about the injury of Cameroon striker Kalle Sone who was down with a groin injury and did not play in the match.
Kalle will not be playing in a few more matches and his target of 20 goals the whole season might be in jeopardy.
With the foreign striker brought in to score the goals out, Alberts said he told the other forwards to step up by getting more goals to cover for the loss of Kalle for a few matches.
On the performance, Alberts was satisfied with the level of play as the team played a fine passing game even though the ground condition was worsened by a heavy downpour before and during the game.
All his players did well and Alberts credited the win with a complete team effort with nobody outstanding or playing badly.
Only foreign player guy Bwele deserved a special mention for his professional display depicting his class as a player with international experience and that spread through the team according to Alberts.
On the next match against Sabah away, Alberts expects Sarawak to take away points even though it is an away match for he said that in modern football, the players play the same level whether it is played at home or away.
ST Thursday, 12 January 2012 Written by Martin Yee
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