In-form Ghaddar gives Kelantan a new headache

KOTA BARU: Mohamad Ghaddar Mahmoud’s hat-trick in the 3-0 AFC Cup Group H win over Indonesia’s Arema FC on Wednesday has left the Kelantan management and coach Bojan Hodak with a new headache.

With the M-league’s registration deadline for foreign players fast approaching, Hodak has to decide between Ghaddar and Nigerian striker Nwoha Onyekachi to lead the Red Warriors’ frontline in the Super League and the FA Cup campaigns.

The FA of Malaysia (FAM) allow only two imports per team and Hodak intends to keep impressive Nigerian centre-back Nwaneri Obinna.

“If you had asked me earlier, I would have said Iwould keepnwoha for our league campaign because he has been doing well.

“But now that Ghaddar is performing, it is difficult to decide,” Hodak told the post-match conference on Wednesday.

“I will go home tonight and celebrate this win. Tomorrow, I will sort this problem out,” added the Croatian.

Ghaddar and another foreign striker, Dennis Antwi of Ghana, currently play for Kelantan only in the AFC Cup as the tournament allows up to four import players.

With Ghaddar’s hat-trick taking his tally to four in the AFC Cup, and Onyekachi’s three goals in the Super League, it looks like the 19-year-old Antwi is likely to be overlooked by Hodak. But speculation is rife that Kelantan are also scouting for new foreign talent and top of the Red Warriors’ list is 32-year-old Guinean striker Keitamandjou, who currently plays for Indian club Pune FC.

It is learnt that a delegation, led by the now-suspended Kelantan FA president Tan Sri Annuar Musa, had met Mandjou in India last month.

Mandjou is no stranger to Malaysian football, having played for Perak from 2004-2007 and winning the Golden Boot award in 2006.

However, it won’t be easy to persuade Pune FC to release Mandjou now.

He is their captain and top scorer and the third-placed team are pushing for top spot with only a few matches left in the league.

Perak are also reported to be keen on getting their former striker to replace the ineffective Lazar Popovic of Serbia.

If Kelantan do get Mandjou, he won’t be able to play in the AFC Cup unless the Red Warriors make it past the group stages.