Sabah suffered their first defeat of the season and it came as a surprise when they went down to unfancied UiTM FC. All of the goals were scored in the first half with Sabah skipper El Hadji Diouf scoring a penalty for Sabah.

Match report to be uploaded once they are available.

Sabah were made to sweat by DRB Hicom as the Rhinos had to come back twice before getting all the three points in their home game opener in Likas yesterday.

Much to the shock of the home fans, the visitors opened the scoring as early as the second minute through a headed goal by Ivan Babic off from a free kick just outside the penalty box.

However Sabah skipper and crowd-favourite El Hadji Diouf equalized just four minutes later following  a melee in front of the visitors goal. Just as the crowd finished celebrating the equalizer the visitors went in front again thanks to an own-goal by import Abdoulaye Faye who sliced the cross into his own net.

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Sabah started the 2015 Malaysian Premier League with all 3 points with a win over Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Senegalese hot-shot and Sabah captain El Hadji Diouf kept his cool as he slotted a penalty just before half time to give the Rhinos an important 1-0 lead coming into the break.

Second goal came from local import Safuan Adli on the 61st minute in an attack initiated by hot-shot Diouf.

Even with the reported bad pitch condition the visitors dominated play even from the beginning in front of a small crowd of supporters, which include Senegalese in KL cheering for their national player Diouf.

Team Manager Datuk Seri TC Goh commented afterwards “It was a very good start to the season. Glad to see the commitment shown by the team.”

The news of the win will surely boost the expectations of the fans and with their next game to be played in Likas, the players can expect a better than average turn-out.

It is hope the players themselves will turn out on the pitch or else, the coming home games will see an almost empty Likas Stadium.

Sabah’s next opponent will be DRB Hicom to be played on February 13th starting at 8.15pm. See you there!

After much anticipation and pre-season excitement, fueled by the capture of Senegalese international El Hadji Diouf, the football fans around the country will be fixed upon the Sabah Rhinos team as they continue their struggle to get back to the Super League this year.

Also in the team is compatriot defender Abdoulaye Faye, who has signed a one-year contract with the Rhinos.

Ahead of the team’s opening game this evening against Kuala Lumper, Sabah Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan has urged the team to start the season with a win.

Touching on the number of fans who come to the stadium, he has this to say “Buli dibilang dengan jari kita” (we can count using our fingers). He says that if the earlier the team starts winning, the more the fans will come.

For Diouf, he can’t wait to play his first league game and show his mettle after arriving in Sabah last November and says that he feels “absolutely no pressure” at all, having played in the world-famous English Premier League with Liverpool, Blackburn and Bolton.

With local coach Justin Ganai in the hot seat after the shocking departure of George O’Callaghan, this could be the year Sabah climbs back to the top league and play with the big boys.

For the fans, it’s time to enjoy another roller coaster season with the team!

All the best Rhinos!

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s hopes of a winning start in its home match was spoilt by KL Felda United on Monday night when they were soundly beaten 1-3 in the Premier League tie at the Likas Stadium in front of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and about 6,000 fans.
The bold move by coach Milomir Seslija to start the match with youngster Maxsius Musa and Sabri Sahar seemed to pay off as Farid Ideris had the first look at goal in the sixth minute after being put through by Rozaimi Abd Rahman but his shot was too weak and was easily saved by Felda’s keeper Mohd Farizal Harun.

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