PETALING JAYA – Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim is not interested in holding any posts in the national team, including as the Harimau Malaya manager, said Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.
However, Hamidin said the Tunku Mahkota of Johor (TMJ) expressed his desire to continue to help improve the national team’s standards.
Hamidin said TMJ expressed his desire when granting an audience to him and national team head coach Kim Pan-gon at the JDT Headquarters in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, recently.
“Tunku Ismail is not interested in any posts, including manager, as reported but beginning from now he intends to put in more effort to help the national team in any way possible.
“Some said that TMJ did not want to help (previously), (so) this time he wants to do it, especially in preparation for the 2023 Asian Cup (in Qatar) next January,” he told the media here today.
Previously, there were reports linking former FAM president TMJ with the post of Harimau Malaya manager.
Elaborating, Hamidin said TMJ planned to supply several gym equipment, including exercise bicycles, in addition to giving Pan-gon instructions to list down other amenities his team needs.
Hamidin said TMJ also invited the national team to train and play at the JDT home ground, Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri while maintenance work is being carried out at Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
“Pan-gon has no problem (playing in Iskandar Puteri) as he too likes the field condition there. Apart from the field, there are also other facilities, including for rehabilitation and sports science,” said Hamidin. – Bernama, February 14, 2023
