SEREMBAN - Under the guidance of new head coach K. Devan, 85% of the Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) team that will play in the Premier League next season will be comprised of new faces.
Devan said that most of them are experienced Negeri Sembilan-born players who have played with other teams in the Super League and Premier League this season.
"Currently, we have 16 to 17 local players. We will have four imported players ─ we have confirmed one player while three more are being identified.
"With the big changes I make this year ─ hiring quality players ─ I am confident in the formation of the team. It is not impossible (for us) to reach the top five in the Premier League, but I want to make sure we qualify for the 2022 Super League and we need to be in the top two (in the league) as that is our target,” he said today.
In order to strengthen the NSFC team to face the league competition, the Bahau, Jempol-born coach said that he enlisted the services of a 27-year-old midfielder from South Korea, Bae Beom Geun, who is currently playing with a team in Slovakia.
Commenting on rumours that Kedah team striker Mohamad Zaquan Adha Abd Radzak would return to don the ‘Hobin Jang Hobin’ squad jersey, Devan said the national player had expressed interest in Negeri Sembilan FC.
NSFC, prior to this, had recruited several new players including Selangor 2 defender Raja Imran Shah Raja Amin, three former PJ City FC players, namely, brothers, R. Barathkumar (striker) and R. Aroon (defender), as well as Damien Lim (goalkeeper).
Also grabbed by NSFC were three former Melaka United FC players, namely Saiful Ridzuwan Selamat (midfielder), Annas Rahmat (defender) and Muhammad Ferris Danial Mat Nasir (striker).
Apart from that, three former Felda United FC players, namely, Ahmad Tasnim Fitri Mohd Nasir and Osman Yusoff, who are both defenders, as well as Mohd Muhaimin Mohamad (goalkeeper) and Terengganu FC defender, Nasrullah Haniff Johan, were among those who will join NSFC next season.
Besides qualifying for the Super League, Devan said NSFC’s targets would depend heavily on the team's performance.
"If we can compete with the teams in the Super League, I think we can play in the Malaysia Cup and the FA Cup, and we also have to see the team draw in the FA Cup. If we get voted with teams that we can overcome, we will try ... we do not set a target (only) in the Premier League,” he said.
For NSFC team supporters, Devan promises a big change in the team's performance and playing pattern and is confident of the team qualifying for the Super League, which is the main target.
"My mission is to bring the NSFC team to the Super League, thus satisfying Negeri Sembilan football fans. I also have a long-term strategy to form a strong team with detailed and systematic planning," said Devan, who would be assisted by K. Rajan.
Devan returned to coach the Negeri Sembilan football team for the third time after his first stint in the 2003 to 2006 season, followed by the 2015 season.
This season, Negeri Sembilan, who was under the guidance of head coach Sazali Saidon, finished the Premier League competition in the second lowest position among 12 teams after recording three wins, two draws and six defeats. – Bernama, December 24, 2020
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