By Fitri Hazim Hazam
SHAH ALAM, Feb 1 — Selangor FC is set to enhance their squad ahead of the upcoming season of the Malaysian Super League by adding up to three new foreign players, said head coach Tan Cheng Hoe.
The club will also meticulously prepare for the new campaign, including conducting overseas training sessions and friendly matches against stronger opponents to assess the players’ performance.
“With each new season, changes in the squad are inevitable, with some players staying and others departing. While most of our current players will stay, we are looking for two to three new foreign players and will discuss this with the management.
“Thorough preparation is also needed as we will face a longer season. It is not easy to prepare the team and maintain the same intensity level.
“Training sessions abroad are crucial since they allow us to play friendly matches against stronger clubs to test the (performance of our) players,” he said during a press conference at Daikin Malaysia’s headquarters today.
Tan was speaking after the strategic cooperation signing ceremony between Selangor FC and Daikin Malaysia. It was witnessed by the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah and Daikin Malaysia’s chief executive officer Toshiharu Tsurumaru.
Yesterday, Selangor FC announced that sensational winger Faisal Halim has chosen to stay with the team for the new season.
Before this, they had also announced that key players like Mukhairi Ajmal, Safuwan Baharudin, and Yohandry Orozco would continue with the Red Giants.
Additionally, the club have retained their young players, including Sikh Izhan Nazrel, Danial Asri, Harith Haiqal, and Izwan Yuslan.
Meanwhile, Selangor FC chief executive officer Johan Kamal Hamidon said the strategic partnership between Daikin and the football club, which enters its second year, will definitely boost the team’s morale and enhance the club’s brand.
“Through this collaboration, the Daikin logo will be displayed on the team’s jerseys in the upcoming season,” he said.
Johan added that Selangor FC is actively formulating strategies to ensure the team can challenge the league title in the coming season while engaging in more strategic collaborations off-field.
“The upgrading of the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium as our home ground is also in progress, and we anticipate the team will grow stronger with the arrival of new foreign players soon,” he said.
Daikin Malaysia senior marketing manager Louis Chan, who was also present at the event, said the company’s cash sponsorship signifies the company’s support for Selangor FC in facing the upcoming season.
The decision to extend their partnership demonstrates the company’s commitment to football development in Malaysia and building good relations with the community via sports.
“We hope this sponsorship will boost Selangor FC’s spirit to compete in the new season, especially after qualifying for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup,” he said.
