AFTER nine years with Kelantan and winning the hearts of their fans, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat will spend the rest of the 2018 season with Melaka United.
This was confirmed by Melaka Football Association deputy president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi when met during the PKNS FC versus Melaka United match at Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday.
“Other than the fact that we have already come to an agreement with KAFA, I’ve also met Apek the past couple of days and he’s agreed to come to Melaka.
“So it’s confirmed that he will join us in this second transfer window,” said Yusoff.
“We approached him when we knew Kelantan wanted to let him go.
'Apek is a keeper who is still a very good player and one who is also an international.
“Melaka need another mature keeper to complement Zamir (Selamat). Zamir has been performing but if anything happens to him, it seems we don’t have another dependable keeper. Now we have an another option.”
Khairul Fahmi is one of a handful of players that coach Fajer Ibrahim deemed to be surplus to requirement after the Syrian took over head coach duties at The Red Warriors.
The 29-year-old custodian has been courted by other teams in the past but has stayed loyal to Kelantan, and this KAFA decision has been widely criticised by their fans.
“For now, we have agreed on a six-month contract but actually I want him to stay longer at Melaka. If we look at his record, he stays with a club for a long time.
Khairul Fahmi’s experience and leadership will be much needed at Melaka as they need to turn their fortunes around if they are to secure their third successive season in the top flight.
Melaka are also on the lookout for a new head coach after giving Eduardo Almeida the boot. E. Elavarasan is one of the candidates being considered and the former PKNS coach was also in attendance in the match against his former side yesterday.