While we’re still going back and forth with the Asian Football Federation (AFC) about a neutral venue for the 2019 Asia Cup qualifiers, there is another elephant in the room that needs to be addressed.
That is, of course, the fact that Harimau Malaya still does not have a head coach.
As soon as Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim was sworn in as the President of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) on the 25th of March, he announced that former Johor Darul Ta’zim’s head coach Mario Gomez would be Harimau Malaya’s new head coach.
However, the two were embroiled in a contractual feud that led to Gomez being extricated from the picture. Since then, many names have been thrown around, like Josep Gombau, Zico, Bojan Hodak, but nothing solid has come from FAM.
All we know is that the FAM president is still looking at a foreign coach who won’t ask for a lavish salary. According FAM’s secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, FAM has shortlisted a few names, and we can expect to learn the name of the new head coach very soon.
“Tunku Ismail will announce the head coach very soon. We have a few names, but I cannot disclose them – I don’t want any speculation.” BHarian quoted Datuk Hamidin as saying.
“We’re still in talks with the candidates.” he added.
“As for assistant head coach, I have been in touch with Datuk Jeffrey Low, Kedah FA’s deputy president.” Datuk Hamidin said.
“We’re very close to finalising everything. But there are a few things we need to look at first. I know our international fixture is on the 8th of June, and I think we can get things sorted by then.” he added.
Well, we can’t wait to find out who that secret candidate is, and to welcome our new head coach!
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