After being hit by a mass exodus, Kuala Lumpur are thankful that Stanley Bernard has bucked the flow and returned home to roost.
The striker has been released from his two-year contract with Sabah in order to join KL and be nearer to home to care for his ailing mother.
Stanley, 25, said there was never any question of his destination and his return is the only piece of good news KL coach Razip Ismail has had since the 2011 season ended.
"I'd love to play for KL. I know coach Razip well and what he is trying to do here is a good thing. I've got great faith in the coach and year in, year out it's (players leaving) the same thing with KL but the quality is always there.
"At the beginning, everyone always fear for KL but somehow the results come and even when we lose, we're never outclassed.
"I think we can still stay in the Super League," said a determined Stanley, who left KL to join UPB-MyTeam in 2009 before moving on to Sporting Clube de Goa in the Indian I-League and then Sabah.
Having lost 13 key players to other teams, Razip has had to start from scratch and has tried out several players in friendly defeats against Police (3-0) and Brazilian touring team Joga Limpo (3-0).
There were several players attempting comebacks from injuries, including former PKNS players Zameer Zainun and Fairuz Montana Zainal Abidin in Saturday's match against Joga Limpo at the KLFA Stadium.
With so many unfamiliar faces on the pitch, Stanley said it is inevitable that the team lack understanding which can only come with regular matches.
"We don't know each other yet, some players just turned out today (Saturday). The condition of the pitch did not help either.
"We just need more games to get an understanding going," added Stanley, who partnered former Sarawak import Robert Eshun of Ghana up front.
Eshun, however, is unlikely to be picked up by KL, given he is already 36, and lacks match fitness. KL are also in a tight financial situation.
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