PETALING JAYA: Datuk M. Karathu is 67 years old and has been coaching for 40 years.
But the newly-appointed Kelantan coach is still as passionate about the game as when he first began his love affair with football.
“Football is in my blood ... every appointment has been a new challenge for me and my hunger for the game has never been stronger,” said Karathu in a telephone interview from Kota Baru yesterday.
Kelantan will open their Super League campaign against Selangor in the season opening Charity Shield match at the Shah Alam Stadium tomorrow.
Karathu started his coach stint by guiding Perak to victory in the Burnley Cup (Under-20) tournament in 1971.
He coached Perak in the M-League, leading them to win the inaugural FA Cup in 1990. He then had stints with Negri Sembilan FA (NSFA), Kelantan FA (Kafa) and Woodlands Wellington FC of Singapore.
He also guided Kelantan to the Malaysia Cup semi-finals in 1993.
His last coaching stint was with Perak, first as their technical director (2004-08) and then as coach in 2009.
Karathu was also coach of the Sri Lanka national team (1999-2000). He is the first local to have coached a national team outside Malaysia.
“I am no stranger in Kelantan. I have fond memories of my previous stint with Kelantan. There is a huge following here and the fans are passionate about the game,” said Karathu.
“In fact, they are more result-orientated. It will be good for football if we can get the same kind of passionate support from fans in all the other states.
“I only arrived today (yesterday) and I will have my first training session with the players in the evening before we travel to Selangor for the opening game.
“My work will depend much on (previous coach K.) Sathianathan and his coaching staff for now. They will guide me because I barely know the players.”
Karathu has signed a one-year contract with Kafa while Sathianathan has been appointed chief executive officer of Kafa’s coaching board and as the advisor to Kafa president Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
Kafa hired Karathu on Wednesday to replace Sathianathan, whose six-month suspension by the FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) appeals committee was upheld by the disciplinary board on Monday.
The disciplinary board meted out the punishment on Sathianathan for touching on FAM policy matters in the media.
Sathianathan, who led Kelantan to their historic Malaysia Cup victory last year, cannot be involved in any FAM activities until July 24.
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