KUCHING SEPT 29: The Sarawak men’s rugby team is determined to secure a spot in the quarterfinals as they prepare both physically and mentally for their upcoming Agong Cup match against Sabah this Saturday.
Its Head coach Zakaria Hamzah expressed the team’s determination as the team has a history of reaching the quarterfinals in 2017 but faced challenges in 2022, failing to advance past the group stage.
“We are currently working on solidifying the basics such as running into gaps, passing, and defending. We do not want to get caught out by them by attempting too many fancy plays.
“The players are also bonding well, and team morale is at an all-time high despite us only getting together just recently,” said Hamzah when contacted by TVS.
When questioned about the potential outcome of the match against Sabah, Hamzah acknowledged that it would be a formidable challenge for the team.
He stressed the importance of not underestimating Sabah, given their impressive track record in the competition.
“We do not want to put pressure on the players. They (Sabah) are a very good team on paper, and they also have performed well in the past, having being champions on a number of occasions.
“They have also been strengthened with the presence of former members of the All Blacks in Luke McAllister and head coach, Brad Mika” he added.
Hamzah also took the opportunity to expressed his gratitude to the supporters.
“Thank you everyone for the endless support and prayers. We hope to make Sarawak proud and keep inspiring the new generation of players so that they too can aspire to represent the state and hopefully, the country in rugby,” he added.
The team left for Kota Kinabalu at 9 pm on Thursday and will face Sabah on Saturday at 4 pm. -TVS
