Tuesday 13 December 2011

Ambitious Armed Forces ready for new season

Armed Forces will be coming out with their guns blazing when the M-League kicks off on Jan 15.

The Premier League outfit, strengthened by several big name signings, have also put the Malaysia Cup and FA Cup in their sights.

The team’s massive re-branding exercise saw them securing the services of former national coach B. Sathianathan to chart their fortunes.

Sathianathan roped in five players from Negri Sembilan’s Malaysia Cup winning squad. They are the Razak twins – internationals Mohd Aidil Zafuan and Mohd Zaquan Adha – striker Hairuddin Omar, defender Irwan Fadzli Idrus and goalkeeper Farizal Harun.

Armed Forces will be coming out with their guns blazing when the M-League kicks off on Jan 15.

Former Kedah striker Marlon Alex James and former MPPJ FC midfielder Bruno Sebastian Martelotto have also signed up. Promising youngsters K. Reuben (from UKM), Amiridzwan Taj Tajudin (UiTM), Fitri Omar (Muar Municipality), Christie Jayaseelan (PKNS) and A. Varathan (Sime Darby) will add depth to the squad. Negri Sembilan-born Sathia­nathan, who is also the team manager, said they are ready for the new season.

“What you need is quality to light up the league and we have the players who can help us gain promotion to the Super League,” Sathianathan said at the introduction of the players and the launching of the team’s website in Putra Jaya yesterday.

“I was given a free hand in picking the team and have got the material that I wanted. We have been training since the beginning of the month and will play a number of friendly matches to jell as a team.

The team will be going on a three-match playing tour of Myanmar as a part of their preparations.

“I’m confident that we have the quality to bring the fans back to the stadium even if we are playing in the lower tier,” said Sathianathan, who will be assisted by Kamaruddin Mohd Noor and Shahrin Majid. Abdul Hamid Ramli is the goalkeeping coach.

The Petaling Jaya Stadium will be the Armed Forces’ new home ground, replacing the Selayang Stadium.

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