Thursday, October 09, 2014
Durakovic Feeling Selangor Heat
MEHMET Durakovic’s future with Selangor will be decided next week if the coach fails to steer his team to the Malaysia Cup semi-finals with success against Felda United.
But that is a tall order, as Selangor had lost the quarter-final first leg 4-0, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the second leg at Temerloh Stadium tomorrow.
Selangor had allegedly produced a half-hearted performance in the first leg rout by Felda last weekend following a dispute over match bonuses.
The FA of Selangor (FAS) promised a bonus pay-out of RM20,000 to their team for reaching the quarter-finals but it has yet to be fulfilled.
However, the association has been excellent paymaster this season while the bonus pay-out has been delayed due to technical reasons (A contradictory sentence if ever there was one but what does 'technical reasons' mean exactly? They have no money in the bank?).
Durakovic, who met the Super League target by guiding his team to second place, has a three-year contract with the 32-time champions.
His contract, however, has a clause which states that FAS can review and terminate the agreement if he does not meet targets.
FAS is also said to be unhappy with several players, who have been causing disharmony in the dressing room.
Some players, who have one-year left on their contracts, are demanding for a pay rise and want FAS to comply before the end of the Malaysia Cup.
National winger S. Kunanlan and goalkeeper Farizal Marlias are said to be heading to Darul Ta'zim next season.
“I do not want to comment about other issues apart from the match on Friday (tomorrow). As a coach, I need to prepare my players the best possible way for the challenge,” said Durakovic in Shah Alam on Tuesday.
“I am a big Selangor fan and I want the team to do well. Nothing is impossible in football. I believe we still have a chance of progressing.”
Durakovic, however, is expected to drop several big names, who failed to inspire last weekend, in tomorrow’s match.
Despite the team’s internal problems, FAS has yet to issue an official statement about the issue.
FAS secretary Rosman Mohd Ibrahim and other office-bearers do not want to comment, and are waiting for deputy president Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad, who will return from overseas on Monday, to decide on the team.
SOURCE - NST
COMMENT - I wonder where all this leaves Andik Vermansyah?
# posted by Me @ 9:50 AM 
