Kota Kinabalu: Sabah FC are boosted with the return of key players for the second-leg of the MFL Challenge Cup final against Penang FC at the Likas Stadium tonight.
Head coach Juan Torres Garrido in a pre-match press conference held at Likas Stadium on Saturday confirmed that most of the key players who missed the first leg in Penang have fully recovered from injuries.
“There are new injuries reported so far and the team still has one last training session before the match.
“Our current condition is much better than the first-leg match when several of our key players had to be sidelined due to injuries.
“Now we almost have a full squad, so the team is definitely stronger as we have also analyzed the previous match and identified several aspects that need to be improved.
“The players have also worked hard throughout the training session and are in very good shape to face the challenge ahead,” he said.
He also paid credit to the players for the success in qualifying for their second cup final this season.
“There have been several changes to the squad since last December and this achievement in making anther cup final is a testament to the continuous efforts and hard work of the players, not just dependent on the coaches,” he said.
He also called on the fans to come in full to support the team as their presence is an important factor in helping the team, especially in big matches like the final.
The fans’ “win or die trying” attitude has deeply inspired the Sabah FC squad to give their absolute best in the 2026 Challenge Cup final, determined to finally end the club’s seven-year trophy drought since they won the 2019 Malaysia Premier League.
“We will do it,” said Sabah Coach Stano, responding enthusiastically when asked about the fans’ “win or die trying” sentiment echoing on social media.
Stano, in the game press conference at the stadium here Saturday, said the overwhelming support, with currently over 11,000 tickets already sold for the second leg of the final against Penang FC, served as a massive motivation for the squad.
“We want to make the fans part of this journey, because they can truly make a difference on the pitch, especially on our home turf. After a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first leg away in Penang, we are determined to capitalize on home advantage to secure the title,” he said.
Stano said that, unlike the first leg, where The Rhinos struggled with numerous injuries and a depleted roster, the team was entering the decisive match in a much stronger physical position.
“We now have an almost full team with many players coming back ready for the game. We are facing a much better situation than the first game, which makes us stronger,” he added.
Touching on the team’s tactical approach, Stano emphasised the need for consistency on the field rather than introducing radical changes or heavy pressing tactics.
He explained that the coaching staff was focusing on tweaking minor details and ensuring the players felt comfortable handling high-pressure situations throughout the match.
Acknowledging that their previous FA Cup final appearance against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) was against a dominant force, resulting in a 0-5 loss, the head coach viewed the clash with Penang FC as a much more balanced and realistic opportunity to claim a major trophy.
He also called for a packed stadium, recalling the intense atmosphere during the away leg in Penang, and hoped the home crowd would create a similarly intimidating environment to spur the players on.
“For us, this is a big opportunity to win a title, especially at home for the supporters, the club, the players, and all the staff. The fans are waiting for something big, and we need them to back us in both the good and tough moments,” he added.
Meanwhile, Penang FC head coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail said the advantage of Sabah FC playing in front of thousands of their home supporters would not dampen the spirit of the Penang FC squad to chase the title in tomorrow’s second leg of the Challenge Cup final.
The former Harimau Malaya striker acknowledged that the advantage lay with the hosts and their experience on the final stage, but stressed that his players were highly motivated and ready to provide a fierce challenge.
He said the main focus of The Panthers was to improve their finishing, taking lessons from the first leg at the City Stadium, where they managed to control the game but failed to convert chances.
“In terms of tactics, there are not many changes, but players need to make the right decisions, especially in the first 10 to 15 minutes to absorb the opponent’s pressure with maturity,” he said at the same press conference.
Leading the team in a final for the first time as head coach, Wan Rohaimi expressed pride in his players’ achievements and hoped both teams could deliver an entertaining match befitting the status of a final.
