Deer after Indonesian wonderkid Bagus

PETALING JAYA: Change is on the cards for Negri Sembilan’s football team in the new season.

It’s learnt that the Deer will have a new chief executive officer (CEO) on board while the current coach K. Devan will be on the way out, with an announcement imminent on Thursday.

Devan’s contract ended last year but Melaka and Penang are eyeing him for the upcoming season.

His replacement could be one of these coaches – Azzmi Aziz (Police), Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail (Kuala Lumpur) and Ishak Kunju (Negri Sembilan II).

A source close to the club said the team would be banking on a younger squad under the new leadership.

The youngsters from the club’s second team will be part of their five-year project and will be assisted by a new technical director.

“The club are getting a technical director, most likely a person from the Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD) to plan their future over the next five years,” said the source.

“The coach will be announced in two to three weeks, while the CEO will be known by this week.

Young players set to be retained are R. Javabilarivin, Izzudin Roslan, R. Aroon Kumar and Zainal Abidin Jamil while veteran striker Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak is expected to remain for another season as captain to guide the youngsters.

The club are also eyeing some talents from the Southeast Asian region as well and could loan Indonesian youngsters Bagus Kahfi Alfikri and Bagas Kaffa Arrizqi from Barito Putera.

Bagus is a striker, while Bagas is a wingback. Both are part of the Indonesian Under-23 squad.

Bagus was once touted as one of the best Southeast Asian wonderkids together with the likes of Thai striker Suphanat Muenta and Malaysian Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin.

He even had stints overseas with Dutch club Utrecht and Greek side Asteras Tripolis.

“The club have started negotiations with Barito Putera to bring the twins on loan,” said the source.