Kelantan Coach Not Impressed With His Imports

5 April, 2015



GEORGE TOWN: Isaac Pupo and Emmanuel Kenmogne’s future with Kelantan is under threat after they were criticised for the 2-1 Super League loss to Terengganu.

Kelantan coach Mohd Azraai Khor did not hide his disappointment with the two imports after starting his tenure with an east coast derby loss on Saturday.

"The match was quite balanced, but the difference was the foreign players in both teams. Terengganu had four quality imports, but our own (imports) were listless. In fact, we performed better with the locals after I hauled the imports off in the second half," said Azraai.

Ismail Faruqi put the Turtles in front shortly after the break but Kelantan pulled level through skipper Mohd Badhri Radzi in the 75th minute. Shahrin Sapien scored the home side’s winner in the 78th minute.

Said Azraai: "We held our own and did well to come back into the game. But in a close match like this, the impact of the import players is decisive and this is why Terengganu won.

"Kelantan have good local players, but we now need to get better imports.”

Besides forward Kenmogne of Cameroon and Liberian midfielder Pupo, Australian defender Jonathan McKain also played at the Sultan Ismail Stadium. The other foreigner in the squad, Colombian forward Erwin Carrillo, missed the game through injury.

Terengganu coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim pleaded for patience from the supporters after giving new-signing Issey Farran Nakajima of Canada a 30-minute appearance. The 30-year-old Canadian international provided much-needed support to the overworked Brazilian Paulo Rangel up front.

"Please give Issey a break. He has only been in Terengganu for five days. He showed he has the speed and movement to trouble the opposition, but probably needs three or four matches before we can see his true potential," said Abdul Rahman.

"It was important to get a win after the three-week break. We were a bit rusty in the first half, but eventually got going against a good Kelantan team.”

The east coast neighbours will feature in the FA Cup quarter-finals first leg on Tuesday – Terengganu at home to Perak and Kelantan away to Sime Darby FC.

Sumber - Loganath Velloo www.thestar.com.my