Baffling move by Negri
PREMIER League leaders Negri Sembilan have made a risky decision by terminating the contract of Croatian striker Marko Simic.
The 29-year-old Simic, who has netted nine goals this season, was told by Negri on Monday upon his return from a short holiday.
A disappointed Simic, who is popular among Negri fans, posted “‘It’s over” on his Instagram account after receiving the bad news.
“Simic is not a team player. He has become too individualistic and wants all the glory to himself,” said a Negri official yesterday.
Negri signed Frenchman Jonathan Behe, who was dropped recently by Sabah, yesterday for the remainder of the season. The former Montpellier youth striker was a failure in Sabah with only three goals to show before his contract was terminated.
Behe shone last year with S-League’s Warriors FC, where he finished as joint second top scorer in the competition with 19 goals in 23 matches.
Negri will keep the other three foreigners in Englishman Lee Tuck, Serbian Nemanja Vidic and Brazilian-Japanese striker Bruno Castanheira until the end of the season.
It is not the first time Negri have made baffling decisions in their quest to make the grade in the league.
Last season, the club released their leading scorers in Australians Joel Chianese and Andrew Nabbout, who scored 19 goals between them, during the midseason transfer window.
Their replacements in former Brisbane Roar forward Henrique Andrade Silva and French striker Goran Jerkovic turned out to be failures.
Negri are currently the only unbeaten side in the Premier League but their lead has been reduced from five points to just two over second-place Terengganu following a run of four straight draws.
Coach Asri Ninggal has also secured Kelantan defender Nik Shahrul Azim Halim and PKNS midfielder Sabre Mat Abu, on loan deals to boost his squad.
“It is frustrating that we have not won a match of late. I am working with the players in training and hopefully, we will return to our winning ways when the league resumes,” said Asri.
Negri will restart their Premier League campaign against Perlis in Paroi on June 30.