Five ready to be promoted to join Crocs
KUCHING: Sarawak’s President Cup head coach Jalil Ramli said five in his present squad are potential players to be promoted into the state senior team next season.
Jalil said those players are from four different positions — goalkeeper, defender, midfield and striker. “I observe that there are four to five players who have bright chances to be in the senior team for the new season next year,” said Jalil.
Jalil said all along his priority is to produce new players who can be drafted into the senior team. “Although the team’s performance is not consistent throughout the season as we lost most of our matches, there is a big improvement among the players.
“They showed high level of self-confidence and do not easily lose ball possession,” said Jalil, adding that the strikers have shown great improvement.
Jalil, who holds a Super A coaching licence said their attacking position was more organised now compared to the beginning of the season.
“However, there is still a lot to be done because in training young players you cannot expect to produce instant results. It needs some time,” said the former Ngap Sayot team head coach.
The Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) has given Jalil the task to take charge of the President Cup squad this season and he is assisted by three former state players — Pengiran Bala, Abu Bakar Amran and Jahar Nor as the goalkeeper coach. At the end of last season, FAS offered Jalil to train the senior team but the long throw specialist chose to train the President Cup instead.
With 10 years of experience in Peninsular Malaysia and as Sarawak senior team coach from 1999 to 2005, Jalil is optimistic he can produce new players for the senior team.
As a player, Jalil captained the state team to win the FA Cup in 1992, Premier Cup in 1997 and Piala Sumbangsih 1998. As a coach he guided Sarawak to the Malaysia Cup final in 1999 and FA Cup final in 2000, but the team lost in both attempts.
Jalil’s potential was spotted by Sarawak football legend Awang Mahyan Awang Mohamad when Jalil was playing in the Sarawak Cup in 1987 in Bintulu.
His long throw, which was as good as a corner’s kick, put his name as a unique player. He first played for the state team in 1988 until 1998 and was appointed Sarawak chief coach in 1999 until 2005. He was also the team’s captain under Australian coach Alan Vest.
