Up for the challenge
CONFIDENT: Zahasmi believes he has what it takes to steer Kelantan
WITH all the troubles facing Super League side Kelantan, it takes a brave man to plunge into the cauldron in Kota Baru but that is what Zahasmi Ismail has done.
The lure of coaching his home state team was too big to turn down, even with the uncertainties surrounding Kelantan FA’s (Kafa) financial affairs and no inkling on which players will stay for next season.
Zahasmi has had a taste of what it is like to coach Kelantan when he was installed in a caretaker capacity in July 2015 after Azraai Khor Abdullah left.
He steered Kelantan to ninth place in the Super League standings though they exited the Malaysia Cup in the group phase with Zahasmi winning six and losing five of his 15 matches in charge.
Now given the reins for a full season, Zahasmi is back where he believes he belongs after leading Minisry of Finance FC to the FAM Cup quarter-finals this year.
“I want to thank the Kafa mamangement for giving me this responsibility because Kelantan are not just any team,” said Zahasmi, 49, after his appointment was announced in Kota Baru on Wednesday.
“This is a heavy responsibility and challenge. I am proud that a Kelantanese has been chosen as a coach. I have faith in the management to help bring us success.
“Before this Kelantan have had foreign coaches and this is the first time they have taken on a local coach from the state. I am one of the lucky ones.
“We hope to do our best to achieve success.”
Zahasmi takes over a team in disarray after Bulgarian coach Velizar Popov left, having led Kelantan to fourth place in the Super League table and the Malaysia Cup quarterfinals.
The likes of Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor, Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria, Manaf Mamat, Daudsu Jamaluddin, Noor Hazrul Mustafa and Muslim Ahmad have joined other teams while Brendan Gan and Faris Shah Rosli are nursing with longterm injuries.
Zahasmi, who played as a hardtackling central defender for Kelantan in two spells between 1986 to 1999, said he needs to make a decision on which players to retain with Kelantan already behind in preparation for 2017.
“I have gone through the squad list and in a day or two, we will decide on who should stay,” he said.
“I have just looked at the list and will begin discussions immediately.
“I am confident with the players we have. There have been many unexpected changes with players leaving and we also need to consider who else to bring in.”
Kafa deputy president Datuk Seri Afandi Hamzah said Zahasmi will be given the backing he needs to ensure Kelantan achieves success next year.
“We have submitted our registration for next season and now the issue of funding and sponsors will be handled by the exco,” said Afandi.
“We don’t have any commitments yet from sponsors but the exco is working on this difficult issue which we are determined to resolve.
“Our treasurer is preparing a financial plan for next season and we are going to need RM1 million a month to run the team.”