Johor FC keen to sign Kenyan defender

Johor FC are set to sign Kenya skipper Pascal Ochieng for their Super League campaign.

The 27-year-old central defender impressed during trials and team manager Wan Nizam Wan Omar said Ochieng could make his debut against Kedah at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on Saturday.

Wan Nizam said they would not rush things as they had learnt their lesson after the FA of Malaysia (FAM) rejected both their proposed foreign signings – Tito Fernando and Tiago Lima Leal – at the start of the season.

Striker Fernando and midfielder Leal did not meet FIFA’s requirements to play in the MSL.

“It’s okay if we fail to get Ochieng registered in time for the match against Kedah. We will make do as the team have been playing relatively well despite the three defeats.

“The main drawback is our finishing. We have been creating chances but the forwards have been a letdown. It would have been different if only we had taken our chances,” said Wan Nizam, whose latest setback was a 1-0 home loss to Perak in Pasir Gudang on Saturday.

He said the team worked hard against Perak and could have been 3-0 up by half-time if not for the poor finishing of forwards Shahrizal Saad, Mohd Zamri Chin, Farid Ederis and Azi Shahril Azmi.

Johor FC are currently in 11th spot in the 14-team standings with only one win after four matches.

They opened their campaign with the 2-1 defeat of PKNS FC before losing to Negri Sembilan (0-2), Kelantan (1-2) and Perak (0-1).