TERENGGANU will need more than RM20 million to mount a proper challenge in next season's Super League.
State FA president Datuk Wan Ahmad Nizam Abdul Hamid said and increase of between 30 and 50 per cent from this season’s budget is inevitable due to increasing wages for players, coaches and backroom staff.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the association’s executive council meeting at Wisma Seri Amar yesterday, Ahmad Nizam said the increase in the total yearly budget will allow Terengganu to be highly competitive in all competitions.
“We need more money as we are challenging for honours again in the country’s highest league and we will soon submit our request to the state government for approval,” he said.
Terengganu will keep the same target of winning at least one major title next season despite their failure to bring home a single trophy this year.
Terengganu finished fourth in the Super League, exited the FA Cup in the second round and made the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup.
Ahmad Nizam said 31-year-old Argentinian midfielder Gustavo Fabian Lopez has become Terengganu’s latest signing to replace Croatian born Australian Mario Karlovic while two other foreign signings from Brazil and Nigeria are close to putting their signatures on the dotted lines.
“Our key defender (Vincent) Bikana is staying put in Kuala Terengganu and at the moment, we are looking to bring in two potent strikers to join the team.
“As for local players, we will retain the bulk of them from this year and now, we only have room for maybe one or two more players,” he said.
However midfielders Norfarhan Mohamad, Faiz Subri and Norhakim Hassan have been released to join other teams, as has defender Mazlizam Mohamad.
Ahmad Nizam said it was good to know that defender Zubir Azmi and striker Abdul Manaf Mamat — who were linked with Darul Ta’zim and Police respectively, have decided to remain in their home state.
“We are also delighted that senior players Sarbinee (Allawee), Ashaari (Samsuddin), Zairo (Anuar Zailani), Ismail (Faruqi Ashari), Hasmizan (Kamaroddin) and Nordin (Alias) have all decided to stay,” he said.
As for the team management, Ahmad Nizam will continue in his role as the team first assistant manager while deputy president Marzuki Sulong has been reinstated as the team manager for the third consecutive season. By Zainuddin Muhammad