Kelantan look at options to hire new coach

PETALING JAYA: Former international Hashim Mustapha will be the Kelantan caretaker coach in the absence of the suspended B. Sathianathan.

The Kelantan FA (Kafa) president, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, said that they would not rush to make a new appointment after the FA of Malaysia (FAM) appeals committee upheld a decision by the disciplinary board to suspend Sathianathan for six months.

He added that the priority was to keep the team focused on the tasks ahead in the new season beginning with the Charity Shield match against Selangor at the Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday.

“Kafa are in the midst of identifying potential candidates,” said Annuar from Kota Baru yesterday.

“We are aware of the competition rule that requires a team to be handled by a coach with an A-licence. We have a few days left before the season kicks off.

“We are looking at the options. Many are keen to come to Kelantan. But we are going to be careful in our selection process and do not want to spoil the good things that have been done here.

“We have just completed a two-day motivation camp with the team. We won’t be too ambitious with our aspirations for the new season.”

Several coaches have been linked to the job, including their former coach, Peter Butler, former Kedah coach Mohd Azraai Khor Abdullah and former Perak coach M. Karathu.

Last year, Kelantan made history when they won the Malaysia Cup for the first time since the series began as the Malaya Cup competition in 1921. The Red Warriors also finished as the runners-up to Selangor in the 14-team Super League.

Kelantan have lost the services of three key players to T-Team. They are inspirational skipper Indra Putra Mahayuddin, midfielder Mohd Norfarhan Mohd and centreback Mohd Azizi Mat Rose.

Their new signings are Mohd Khalid Jamlus, Danial Fadly (Armed Forces), Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail, Nurul Azwan Roya (Johor FC), K. Soley (Perlis) and Mohd Abdul Aziz Ismail (KL Plus).