Saturday 10 September 2011

Johor FC coach replaced by assistant

Johor FC coach Azuan Zain became the first casualty of the Malaysia Cup competition when he was told to take an "indefinite rest" and replaced by his assistant Sazali Saidon after the Super League club fell 2-0 to Felda United in their opening Group C match at home on Tuesday.
 
The decision to rest Azuan was taken by the club's management committee, which included deputy president Rozan Sa'at, secretary Tahir Hamdan and treasurer Shahrom Mohd Yasir, after an emergency meeting at Mutiara Sports Complex on Thursday.

Azuan did not attend the meeting as he was reportedly sick while team manager Faizal Abdullah was missing.

This came only two days before Johor FC, beaten semi-finalists last year, face defending champions and hot favourites Kelantan at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru today.
 
Kelantan, the hottest football property in the country at the moment, got off to a flying start with a 2-0 win over Sarawak in Kuching in their first match.

Apart from winning their first ever Super League title this year, Kelantan also beat former kingpins Selangor 2-0 to take the Charity Shield.

"Azuan has told us that he is on medical leave due to high blood pressure. He will not handle the team for an indefinite period as we want him to get well. Starting with the away match against Kelantan (today), Sazali will handle the team," said Tahir.

Sazali will be assisted by Ramlan Sarman, while no mention was made about Faizal. After Kelantan, Johor FC travel to Kuching for a mid-week match against Sarawak.

"We have to buck up to stay in contention for a place in the quarter-finals. It will be an uphill battle against Kelantan but we will not be cowed playing against the partisan crowd. If we can play to our capacity, anything is possible in football."

Johor FC's last trip to Kota Baru ended in a 4-1 beating but in Tahir's own words "we are determined not to allow this to happen again" knowing that another defeat will only make things more difficult for the team.

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