ALOR STAR: Having won the Malaysia Cup for the fifth time last year, Kedah has set a target and is looking to repeat its golden years of winning treble in the Malaysia football league.
Kedah Football Association (KFA) president Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said besides retaining the Malaysia Cup, the squad will also be vying for the Super League title and the FA Cup.
The state’s golden years in the 1990s was revived after winning treble for two consecutive years during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
“It is common for any team competing in the domestic league to aim high and based on the success of winning the Malaysia Cup, we are vying to repeat the treble feat,” he told a press conference after unveiling the ‘Helang Merah’ squad and KFA sponsors for the new season today.
The main sponsors are Bina Darulaman Bhd Group, Kedah Development Corporation (PKNK), Syarikat Air Darul Aman (SADA), Al Ikhsan and Cosmic, for a combined sponsorship of some RM17mil.
Ahmad Bashah who is also Kedah’s Menteri Besar, introduced two new imported players to further strengthen the squad, Danish forward Ken Ilso Larsen and a defender from Australia, Zachary Michael Anderson.
Still retained are its other two imported players, Kosovan Liridon Krasniqi and Brazilian Sandro Da Silva.
KFA also strengthened the squad by signing up the best Malaysia Cup player from last season, Mohd Rizal Ghazali from Felda United and two other local players Akram Mahinan from JDT2 and Penang player Fitri Omar.
‘Helang Merah’ will be facing Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) in the opening charity shield in Larkin Stadium this Jan 20.