Over to you, Harry
JDT sign ex-Lyon winger to replace hotshot Diaz
PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are certainly geared to win a fifth consecutive Super League crown.
Although the transfer window will only reopen in May, the Southern Tigers wasted no time in reinforcing their squad by signing former Lyon player Harry Novillo to replace Argentine Jorge Pereyra Diaz.
Diaz dropped a bombshell by quitting the team abruptly last month, although the 2016 Golden Boot winner proved to be a hit after netting five goals in all competitions to head the club’s scorers’ chart.
The 26-year-old Novilla, an attacking winger, was on free transfer from three-time United Arab Emirates (UAE) Division One champions Baniyas Sports Club where he scored 10 goals in 13 appearances to help them top the league with five matches to go.
He had represented Melbourne City in the Australian League previously.
Novillo has vowed to do the same for his new team in May.
“I’m on fire, you’re on fire, put us together, how are they going to stop us?” he was quoted in a statement released on JDT’s official Facebook page.
JDT sports director Martin Prest has welcomed Novillo to the club’s family as he warned league rivals that JDT, currently the table-toppers, are set to be “unstoppable”.
“Red, white and blue. When fire is set ablaze, it becomes something unstoppable,” said Prest.
“The club are delighted and happy to have a player of his calibre, a young and hungry player striving to achieve greatness, and wanting to be a part of the fastest growing, ambitious and determined clubs in SouthEast Asia.
“Together we will make history,” he added.
Meanwhile, reigning FA Cup champions Kedah have appointed Nidzam Adzha Yusof to turn their season around.
The 50-year-old Nidzam was named as the interim head coach yesterday, replacing an underfire Spaniard Ramon Marcote.
The 40-year-old Marcote, however, did not lose his job as he was handed a new role instead – as the Kedah FA (KFA) football development head coach.
Under Marcote, Kedah have struggled to impress in the early season.
They are currently lying seventh in the Super League after registering two victories and three defeats.