KUALA LUMPUR: It will be the best belated birthday gift for coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee if Sabah confirm their progress to the Asean Zonal semi-finals in style by emerging group winners.
Sabah take on PSM Makassar in their final AFC Cup Group H match at the Likas Stadium tonight and Kim Swee, who just turned 53 on Monday, wants his men to continue their winning momentum.
The Rhinos are the first from the three Asean groups to be assured of qualification to the next stage – the Asean Zonal semi-finals – after collecting an unassailable 12 points after five matches.
Sabah will field the best available players against the Indonesians as defender Gabriel Peres and midfielder Gary Steven Robbat are doubtful with injuries.
“We have been preparing like normal, we rested a few days and we started training like normal. It’s important for us to continue our momentum.
“Even though we have qualified for the next round, we want to continue the momentum. It’s important that whoever’s picked up to play can deliver and it’s important for us to maintain a good performance.
“We don’t want to drop points.”
The zonal semi-finals draw will be held on Dec 21 and the two-legged round is scheduled to be held next year from Feb 12-13 and Feb 19-20.
The winners of each of the three groups and the best runners-up in the Asean Zone (Groups F–H) will advance to the Zonal semi-finals.
M-League sides Kuala Lumpur City reached the AFC Cup final in 2022 while Johor Darul Ta’zim went all the way, lifting the prestigious trophy in 2015.
Kim Swee, although having lofty dreams, brushed aside the notion that his side are the favourites in the competition despite their early qualification and unbeaten record.
He added tinkering too much with the squad next year could derail their campaign in the AFC Cup.
“I cannot say that we are the favourites, we know Haiphong, Makassar and Hougang are good teams.
Our discipline level and our good performance at the end of the season enabled us to qualify early but for the next round, we need to be better prepared,” said the former international.
