No jets for the jumbos

Elephants’ imports stuck with no flights back

PETALING JAYA: Pahang have got the Immigration Department’s go-ahead to bring home their imports who are now abroad. But both are still stranded – there are no flights to bring them to Malaysia.

Pahang need to get two of their five imports – Filipino midfielder Adam Reed and Lebanese defender Khalil Khamis – to rejoin the team in Kuantan but they are stuck in their home countries after leaving Malaysia in March.

Pahang manager Datuk Mohammed Suffian Awang said the paperwork to bring back the duo has been done, thanks to Immigration director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

“We need to thank Datuk Khairul who personally handled our import players’ paperwork ... I heard he had also helped several other M-League teams to get their import players’ travel documents sorted out,” said Suffian.

“The only issue is getting a flight back to Malaysia ... Covid-19 cases are increasing in Beirut so the flights are limited for Khalil to return...it’s the same for Reed.”

“I believe the players will be quarantined once they reach Malaysia but I was told the quarantine period is now reduced to a few days instead of 14 days if they don’t show symptoms of Covid-19.”

Pahang’s other three imports – Nigerian Dickson Nwakaeme, Brazilian Ivan Carlos and Frenchman Herold Goulon – did not leave the country when the movement control order was imposed and are already in training.

The Elephants started their training at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on Tuesday.

Out of bound: Pahang’s Khamis Khalil is currently in Lebanon.

Suffian said it was still early days of training for the team and the players were adapting well to the new norms of training.

“We used to train at an open field but we decided to use the Darul Makmur stadium to avoid having the public congregating to watch the trainings sessions.

“They could be a risk of contracting and passing the virus,” he said.

“We don’t want any breach of regulations.

“The players and team management have all been adhering to the standard operating procedures.”