KUALA LUMPUR – Former footballing legends have rubbished the fact that B.Sathianathan’s sacking was driven by keyboard warriors with allegiances to the Red Giants.
Speaking to The Vibes, former national player, Bakri Ibni said that it is impossible for the state FA to submit to such pressure from fans and sack their coach.
“I have been in the football scene since the 1960’s and never have I heard or seen the state FA’s giving in to fans, especially if they are showing elements of racism. The Selangor FA is headed by the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and I am very sure that he would not allow the state FA to bow down to such fans,” Bakri said.
At the same time, Bakri believes that Sathia’s removal as the head coach of the Red Giants was because of the recent results, which saw the team record one win and two draws since the Super League resumed in August.
“It is normal for coaches to be sacked when the team doesn’t perform. It is the same in Sathia’s case and has nothing to do with the fans. Maybe the 6-1 loss to JDT was the last straw that broke the camel’s back because for the Red Giants to lose with that score line, it is hard to digest, although the Southern Tigers are too strong,” said Bakri.
Meanwhile, another football legend who was a Selangor superstar during his playing days, Datuk Santokh Singh shared the same sentiment as Bakri.
“No way Sathia was sacked because of the pressure by the fans. However, I believe that there is a political agenda within the Selangor football arena and Sathia was just made a scapegoat.
“I am not sure what the political agenda is and who is involved. Sathia was just in the way and that may have got him sacked. To be honest, politics and football cannot co-exist, so when officials play the politics, football dies”.
Santokh also pointed out that Michael Feichtenbeiner is still the head coach of Selangor 2 despite his team getting thrashed 6-1 by JDT 2 in the Premier League.
“I am surprised that Feichtenbeiner is still there while Sathia was terminated by the state FA. To make it worse, the German is now the caretaker of the Red Giants,” Santokh added.
Santokh’s former teammate and friend, Datuk Soh Chin Aun refused to comment on this matter as he believed that the state FA knows what they are doing and that he has no authority to say anything.
“I am not with the state FA or with the team, so I will not comment on this matter as it is not right for me to do so. This does not concern me., “Chin Aun told The Vibes when contacted. The Vibes, October 2, 2020.
