Malaysia: Early trip home for Amoah and Issifu

KUALA TERENGGANU: Two Africans players will be heading for home sooner than expected. They are Sabah’s Joseph Amoah and Terengganu’s Seidu Issifu.

Terengganu and Sabah played to a 1-1 draw in a Premier match at the Sultan Ismail Stadium here on Tuesday and Ghanaian Issifu was not even on the bench. He probably played his last match for the Turtles – for 10 minutes – against Pahang in Kuantan in last week.

Liberian Amoah was told by the doctor that he is suffering from either Hepatitis B or jaundice when he asked to be taken to the hospital at half time.

The doctor at the Kuala Terengganu General Hospital wanted him to be admitted for more check-ups but the Sabah officials wanted him to be treated by the FA’s panel of doctors in Kota Kinabalu.

Team manager Datuk Majin Ajin said yesterday: “We were shocked to learn about his illness. The doctor wanted him to be admitted but we are taking him back to Sabah to see out own panel of doctors.”

Majin added that he had submitted a recommendation to the management committee to terminate Amoah’s contract.

Amoah has not been able to contribute much since making a memorable debut for Sabah in their 1-0 win over Kelantan at home on Feb 19. He netted the winner and that was the only goal he scored in seven ties.

Sabah have another Liberian in the team – striker Josiah Seton. The 23-year-old Seton scored his 10th goal for the Rhinos in the come-from-behind draw with Terengganu. It was his sixth goal in the league. He scored four in the FA Cup first round against Selangor MPPJ.

Majin is satisfied with Seton’s contributions to the team.

“I am confident that Josiah can help us in our quest for honours. Look at the way he took on Terengganu and got the goal. It was one of the best M-League goals I have seen so far this season,” said Majin.

Sabah will wrap up their first round fixtures against the leading two teams in the league. They will be at home against Selangor on Tuesday and away to Perak on April 6.

On Issifu’s absence from the match, Terengganu coach Mat Zan Mat Aris said: “He has failed to fit into the team. I have no choice but to leave him out.”