NO MORE MORA FOR JDT
Darul Ta’zim coach returns to Premier League side Johor
FOLLOWING a string of setbacks, Mexican Benjamin Mora has been removed as coach of Johor Darul Ta’zim and replaced by Portuguese Ulisses Morais.
MANY thought Benjamin Mora was on a permanent coaching job with Darul Ta’zim when the Mexican replaced Argentine trainer Mario Gomez on Jan 18.
Yesterday, Darul Ta’zim revealed on their Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page that Mora was only a caretaker coach.
Portuguese Ulisses Moraistakes over as manager-cumcoach of Darul Ta’zim.
The 58-year-old was formerly with Portuguese clubs such as Famalicao, Aves, S.C. Beira-Mar, and Academica De Coimbra.
The statement from Darul Ta’zim sport director Alistair Edwards did not specify the reason for the decision.
“Mora will now return to his original role as head coach of Johor,” said Edwards.
“We are thankful to Mora as he did a fantastic job in moulding young players for Darul Ta’zim.
“Youngsters Fazly Mazlan, Dominic Tan and Afiq Fazail are now making an impression at the club. We will reveal the new coach very soon.”
Edwards said Mora was offered the caretaker position as he was familiar with the club’s system following Gomez’s departure.
“We wanted someone who understood the club’s philosophy.
“A decision was then made to offer Mora the job on a temporary basis as he was already part of the system. It was a matter of not making rash decisions after Gomez left,” Edwards added.
Under Mora, the former AFC Cup champions failed to live up to expectations in two major competitions.
In addition to the Charity Shield defeat to Kedah on penalties in January, Darul Ta’zim, who have the best players and facilities in the country, were eliminated by Pahang in the FA Cup quarter-finals in April.
Last month, the club suffered an embarrassing defeat to Ceres Negros of the Philippines in the two-leg AFC Cup zonal semi-final tie.
The Asian Football Confederation later slapped Mora with a US$7,000 (RM29,900) fine for insulting match officials in the heated second-leg, which they lost 2-1 in Bacolod on May 31.
Darul Ta’zim, however, enjoy a six-point lead in the Super League and are favoured to win the title for the fourth straight time.