Sarawak FA needs a strong midfielder to shine
March 4, 2019
In 2013, Sarawak FA lifted
the Liga Premier by going undefeated.
Fans attributed the
championship to the brilliance of Dutch coach Robert Alberts and the powerful
striking force of Muamer Salibasic and Bobby Gonzales.
This year, Sarawak brought back both Salibasic
and Gonzales to spear head their attack, and even signed former Robert Alberts’
assistant Anai Igang as their new head coach.
However, with five games already played, the
results aren’t as impressive.
Sarawak went down in the opening game against
Terengganu FC II, won against Pulau Pinang FA at home, and were defeated by Selangor
United, Sabah FA and the latest UKM FC.
This had resulted in Anai
being rested after the defeat to UKM.
Generally speaking, Anai’s experience and
tactical approach should be similar to the winning formula used by Alberts but
the results do not follow. Why?
Fact is, while most fans look at the score line
and the tactical approach of the coach, many fail to realize that Sarawak
doesn’t have a powerful midfielder this time around.
Local lads like Shreen Tambi, Abdul Rahim, Nur
Shamie Iszuan aren’t strong enough to dominate the midfield when faced with
more experienced players. The piling
injury list hitting the midfield does not help to Sarawak’s cause.
Indonesian youngster Rian
Firmansyah is also technically ‘very green’ at top level football despite his
stature as an import player for Sarawak.
Compared to the days Alberts was at the helm
Sarawak had Guy Bwele. Bwele was a formidable player in the midfield.
He helped hold the midfield together and was
important in ensuring the strikers obtained vital supply of passes from the
middle of the park and was largely very consistent in his role. His role to win balls in the center also
helped in limiting advances by their opponents.
Bwele’s big size also gave him added advantage
as he was able to hold and control the ball longer while the Sarawakian wingers
and attackers move into position up front.
That kind of midfielder is missing in the
current set-up. Sarawak currently has pinned sized midfielders that are easily
‘bullied’ by bigger sized opponents.
Although technically gifted, the current crop of
Sarawakian midfielders are slightly inconsistent as well and such inconsistency
means the supply of passes to the forwards are severely lacking at times..
That said, if Sarawak wants to start performing
better, it is vital for the team to improve their midfielder.
The next Sarawak FA coach can opt to crowd the midfield with more midfielders, or reduce long balls, but he needs to address the problem soon as failure to do so will likely see the team struggle in the Liga Premier and this would be difficult for their loyal fans to accept.
Also Read:
CAN ANAI IGANG BRING SARAWAK FA TO GREATER HEIGHTS?
SARAWAK HEAD COACH WARY OF LIGA PREMIER TITLE CHALLENGERS
Sarawak fans upset Sarawak FA failed to play all imports against Sabah FA
This article is brought to us by our Sports Writers Club resident columnist – Cyril Dason.
