Sime Darby looking for promotion to Super League

Club side Sime Darby FC hope to finish among the top two teams in the Premier League and gain promotion to the Super League in 2013.

Sime Darby FC acting President Datuk Seri Tengku Ahmad Shah Abdul Aziz Shah hoped that after missing the opportunity last season, the current inclusion of 13 new faces, including two Liberian imports in the squad, would help fulfill the target.

"We retained 10 players from last season and roped in two players from the President's Cup squad," he told reporters here Tuesday.

Last season, Sime Darby FC who stayed among the top two teams in the Premier League for the better part of the league, lost steam and finished fifth in the league table comprising 14 teams.

Tengku Ahmad Shah said coach Ismail Zakaria was also retained and he would be assisted by Abdul Ghani Malik and Shaharuddin Ahmad Mokshinon.

He said the two import players from Liberia, Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh and Sengbah Kennedy, aged 21 and 24 respectively, had featured in a number of friendly matches, including against Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu and Selangor.

Sime Darby FC open their 2012 Premier League against Harimau Muda B at the Selayang Stadium on Jan 9 and kick off their FA Cup campaign against Sabah at the same stadium on Feb 19.

Sime Darby FC squad:
Mohd Redzuan Harun, Muhammad Hafiz Samsuddin, Mohd Soffuan Tawil, Mohd Fairuz Abdul Aziz, Muhd Nuraliff Zainal Abidin, Es Lizuan Zahid Amir, Kamarul Afiq Kamaruddin, Mohd Hairul Nizam Haniff, Mohd Shazlan Alias, Mohd Arif Ismaail, Mohd Badrul Hisyam Morris, Mohd Nor Ismail, Rosli Muda, Muhd Fadly Baharum, Mohd Asyraf Mohd Al-Japri, Mohd Shoufiq Mohamad Kusaini, Mohd Asrol Ibrahim, Azmirul Azmi, Mohammad Syukur Saidnin, Sengbah Kennedy, Mohd Faiz Mohd Isa, Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh, Mohd Irme Mat, Muhammad Zamri Hassan, Razali Umar Kandasamy.