Jakarta Casual

Georgetown: Kedah team manager Datuk Jeffrey Low has given the assurance that there is no plan to switch the state team’s jersey colour to red.

The Kedah Football Association (KFA) had earlier kicked up a storm by changing their predominantly green and yellow logo to one which now has an image of a red eagle.

As expected, the change did not go down well with the Kedah supporters, who have known their team as the Canaries.

The fans voiced their displeasure in online forums and social media sites, and displayed banners condemning KFA’s switch during the team’s pre-season friendlies at the Darulaman Stadium. There are also calls to boycott the team merchandise carrying the new logo.

“Only the logo is changed. The green and yellow jersey colours are maintained to reflect our identity as the ‘Hijau Kuning’ outfit.

“The logo change issue has been blown up by a small group of supporters. There are bound to be protests whenever changes are made, but it has not affected the team’s preparations for the new season,” said Jeffrey, when contacted in Alor Setar on Friday.

“Proper procedures were followed in implementing the change. The KFA council approved the new logo and, more importantly, we received the blessing from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (who is also the Sultan of Kedah) to carry on with the change.” (Everything that is but consult with the fans! Editor)

The team manager also explained that the image of an eagle was added to project a dynamic and attack-minded approach for the Premier League outfit.

“Before the change, Kedah were known as the Canaries. The canary is meek while the eagle is fierce and feared by other animals. The KFA wanted to build a strong image for the team and restore Kedah’s reputation as a feared side in Malaysian football.”

KFA secretary Aminuddin Omar had earlier rubbished rumours that the change to a red-coloured logo was to please English Premier League side Cardiff City’s owner Tan Sri Vincent Tan. Cardiff had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KFA in August, with Vincent making a personal contribution of RM2mil to the state association.

The Cardiff City owner is famous for his unpopular move to change the Welsh club’s home strip colour from blue to red, and replacing the bluebird on the club’s logo with a red dragon.

“We did not change the logo or colour according to our own or anybody’s fancy. It is part of a transformation that KFA is undertaking to develop football in the state,” said Aminuddin.

Kedah, coached by former Selangor player David Mitchell, returned from their pre-season training camp in Langkawi on Friday.

The team have been set a top two finish in the Premier League so as to gain promotion to the Super League in 2015.