Terengganu coach Irfan Bakti to manage Selangor next season

It's Selangor and not Terengganu for Irfan Bakti next season.

The 60-year-old coach, who guided Terengganu to the FA Cup title and runners-up finishes in the Super League and Malaysia Cup, ended his relationship with the east coast side yesterday.

The Kelantan-born coach caught almost everybody off-guard as he was said to have agreed to a new improved two-year contract almost a month ago.

But Irfan, when met yesterday at the Terengganu FA office, said he had yet to sign a new deal as he needed time to consider his future.
 

"I have had a great time in Kuala Terengganu, winning one trophy and coming close to getting our hands on two others but there are other things to consider too.

"I have decided that I have already done what I was supposed to do here and it is time to look for new challenges and I wish everyone here well," he said.

Irfan did not mention anything about his immediate future plan but soon after, Terengganu FA president Datuk Che Mat Jusoh revealed the coach's next destination during a press conference.

Che Mat said it was a shock to hear from Irfan that he had accepted an offer from Selangor and that his decision was final.

"We were caught by surprise as we thought he would still be with us next year after taking Terengganu to such heights this season.

"We had agreed to everything he had wanted in the new contract and the thought of him leaving us had never crossed our mind until today," he said.

Che Mat, who is also team manager, said Irfan's unexpected departure left Terengganu in a lurch.

"We managed to get in touch with Pos Malaysia coach Mat Zan Mat Aris and at the moment, it looks like we may have found us a new coach.

"Mat Zan was Terengganu's coach when we won the Malaysia Cup in 2001 and he does seem interested in joining us again as he has agreed to come down to discuss terms and conditions with us sometime this week," he said.