KUALA LUMPUR: Six years ago, winger Christie Jayaseelan teamed up with veteran coach B. Sathianathan at Armed Forces. The duo enjoyed a fruitful partnership by making history with the team winning their maiden Premier League title and emerging as the Malaysia Cup runners-up.
When Sathianathan was rested by Armed Forces after the team’s dip in form in April, 2015, Christie, who looks up to Sathianathan as his mentor, forced a move to Felda United.
Sathianathan also quit Forces to join Pahang. Three years down the road, the duo are now reunited at Felda United in the Premier League this season.
They will again aim to win the second-tier competition in a bid to win promotion to the Super League.
Christie, a product of the PKNS academy, described Sathianathan as the man with a huge impact on his playing career. That was the reason why he chose to return to play with Felda.
"It has been always special to work with him. I left PKNS and agreed to join him in 2012 where we won the league together with Armed Forces, and now I hope we can repeat the same achievement.
"Sathianathan played a major part in improving me as a player where I also had the opportunity to represent the national team. I know exactly what the coach expects from me during matches and I am prepared for it," said the 31-year-old Kajang-born.
Christie said when he agreed to join Felda, the team were due to play in the Super League but they were later demoted to the Premier League.
Despite finishing third in the Super League last year, Felda were demoted when the club failed to submit their audited accounts to FAM to meet competition regulations by the FA of Malaysia.
"Although it came as a shock, none of the players are complaining. We have instead accepted it as a challenge and want to help Felda win promotion to the Super League.”
Christie, regularly fielded by Sathianathan in Felda pre-season friendly matches, is looking for a memorable outing when Felda travel to Selayang Stadium for their Premier League opener against UKM FC on Feb 2.