Shape up or ship out
Coach Sathianathan cracks the whip on underperforming foreign players
PETALING JAYA: Three strikes, and you are out!
Felda United’s three foreign players – Argentine strikers Lucas Cano and Gaston Cellerino and Lebanese centreback Mootaz Jounaidi – have three matches to avoid being shown the exit before the second M-League transfer window opens from May 15-June 11.
These players will come under scrutiny starting with their Super League match against Pahang at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan tonight.
They will also have to raise their game in the AFC Cup Group G away match against Hanoi on May 3 and the Super League match against Penang on May 7.
Felda coach B. Sathianathan acknowledged that “time is running out for the trio to prove themselves” before the management decide on their fate.
The former national coach said that only Liberian midfielder Zah Rahan Krangar is assured of staying.
“In any team in the M-League, it’s the foreign players who make the biggest impact. I have told the three players to buck up. The ball is at their feet ... I hope these three matches will be the turning point for them,” said Sathianathan yesterday.
“We’re already out of the FA Cup and the Super League title race. Our only hope is the Malaysia Cup and, if the foreign players don’t perform, we will have no chance.
“I don’t like to change players in mid-season because new players will need time to gel with the team and it might affect our results, but we have no choice.”
Felda, who are nicknamed the Fighters, are eighth in the 12-team Super League standings with 10 points after 10 matches.
Today, they face an on-form Pahang side who knocked out defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the FA Cup quarter-finals last Sunday.
The Elephants are unbeaten at home in 10 matches (all competitions) and will be boosted by the return of injured wingers Christie Jayaseelan ( thigh) and Muhammad Nurridzuan Abu Hassan (knee).
“It will be a hard game for us. Pahang are riding high after their win over JDT. We need the points and I hope we can get something from this match,” said Sathianathan.