Kota Kinabalu: “Do not be complacent after winning the opening match,” Sabah FC head coach Juan Torres Garrido reminded his players as they prepare to face Penang FC in their second Super League fixture at Likas Stadium this Friday.
The Rhinos are seeking their second consecutive victory following a 3-1 win over Star City last week, but the coach stressed that maintaining focus and discipline remains crucial against a different opponent.
“We are satisfied because we started the season with a win and managed to show the style of play we wanted, but now we must look forward as Penang FC will present a different challenge,” Garrido said in a statement on Wednesday.
Garrido described Penang as a solid and well-organised side that is particularly dangerous during set-piece situations, requiring his squad to stay aggressive until the final whistle.
The coach acknowledged that managing player recovery effectively is vital due to the short turnaround time, though intense competition during training provides him with good options for tactical adjustments.
“All our players are training well and competing for starting spots, giving us room to adjust the starting lineup as long as substitute players continue making meaningful contributions,” he said. While aiming to secure maximum points from their opening two home matches, Garrido emphasised that developing team cohesion remains his primary focus, especially after fielding seven new players in the starting lineup against Star City. “We want to win, but the most important thing is how we play and the effort to continue developing this team,” Garrido added, noting that their comfortable lead in the previous match was only secured after the 89th minute. The Super League clash between Sabah and Penang at Likas Stadium here is scheduled to kick off at 7.30pm on Friday.
Sabah are in fourth place in the Super League table, while Penang sit in eight place.