Selangor to decide on fate of three imports

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor management will have to decide on the fate of their under-performing import players.

The Red Giants three imports – midfielder Alfonso de la Cruz of Spain and Indonesian midfielders Evan Dimas and Ilham Udin Armaiyn – are under intense scrutiny over their poor form in the M-League.

The Klang Valley giants are currently eighth in the 12-team Super League with 11 points and only three points off the relegation zone.

Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim top the table with 25 points after 10 matches.

Selangor head coach Nazliazmi Nasir said he expects his imports to perform better than the locals. His priority now, is preparing the team for their next Super League match against PKNP on May 23.

“My focus is more on preparing the team for the PKNP match.

“We have a six-day break and I feel that we must use this period to rectify our mistakes before heading into the gruelling fasting month fixtures which will have us playing five matches before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri break,” said Nazliazmi yesterday.

“I just took over the team two months ago so I’m working with the players available to me.

“I have given my reports on the performance of the players in the squad to the management and it’s their call to decide on the players.

“There’s a lot of things which needed to be considered before we drop and sign new players. We are working around a tight budget this season so we need to be very careful.”

Nazliazmi, who replaced P. Maniam on March 14 following the team’s poor run, said the team are struggling for consistency due to injuries to key players and the relative young age of the players.

“We have a small squad and it’s made worse by injuries to senior players. I see it as a challenge and the credit goes to my coaching staff who work hard to prepare the team,” said the former Selangor youth coach.