KUALA LUMPUR – Who will be the next local assistant coach for Kim Pan-Gon?
There are many names that have been thrown into the fray, which includes people such as former Melaka United coach Zainal Abidin Hassan and Sarawak United coach E. Elavarasan, former Kedah coach Mohd Azraai Khor Abdullah and Penang FC assistant coach Manzoor Azwira Abdul Wahid.
The FA of Malaysia (FAM) are keeping mum on the list of candidates, but it has been reported that the national body has shared the potential names to newly appointed head coach Kim Pan-Gon.
However, a source in the football industry strongly believes that Sarawak United head coach Elavarasan is the frontman to land the job.
“Elavarasan will be a good choice as he has done well and has proved time after time in the domestic league. He is a qualified, young, and vibrant coach who knows Malaysian football by his fingertips.
“The other candidates are also good, but I strongly feel that Elavarasan deserves to get the job.
“He is also a no-nonsense person and knows how to get the best out of the players. He has been highly recommended by other coaches too for the job.
“They are still in the midst of negotiating,” the source told The Vibes.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Vibes, Sarawak United Technical Director B. Sathianathan said that Elavarasan lives football and at the moment he is the right fit for the role that will be key in helping Pan-Gon revive the national team.
“I have worked with him in Sarawak, and we clicked. Sarawak was promoted and that it is the proof of what he can do. He has done it in the past with other teams, so it is time for him to do something on the national level.
“He is a person who is always looking for solutions and open to changes. He is cooperative and listens to suggestions and opinions with an open mind,” Sathia said.
At the same time, a FAM insider said that the Sarawak United coach was approached a month ago, but nothing was decided as the national body was waiting for the arrival of Pan-Gon.
“Pan-Gon will have the last say because he will need the assistant coach to be aligned to the South Korean’s plan for the national team.
It is also believed that Pan-Gon has started interviewing some candidates for the job and a decision will be made soon.
Yesterday, Pan-Gon, in a press conference introduced his back-room staff, which included assistant coach Pau Marti Vicente from Spain, goalkeeper coach Cho Jun-Ho from South Korea, fitness coach Dr Gokhan Kandemir from Turkey and an analyst from South Korea, Lim Jae-Hun.
Attempts to contact Elavarasan for comments over the matter remained futile. The Vibes, February 19, 2021
