Football

FAS won't forget foreign players

KUALA LUMPUR: FA of Selangor (FAS) yesterday denied sidelining the three foreign players, who helped them win the 1995 Malaysia Cup, from the reward promised to the team.

Australians Mehmet Durakovic, David Mitchell and Josip Biskic who played a key role in Selangor's 1-0 win over Pahang in the final, had made it known on Thursday that they were unhappy and disappointed at not being included in the reward which comes in the form of apartments.

Today, 26 players and officials from the Malaysia Cup-winning team of 1995 were presented with ownership certificates during a special ceremony at the site of the Selangorku Idaman Apartment (phase two) in Kajang.

Among the players present were former captain Ismail Ibrahim, Datuk K. Rajagobal, Azman Adnan and Asmawi Bakari.

It is learnt that the close to 1,300 square feet units come fully furnished and are valued at about RM250,000 under the Selangorku housing programme.

When asked about the claims made by the three Australian players, FAS secretary general Izrin Nabil Ismail said: "That is one of the issues. As mentioned, this is part of the Selangorku policy which means a foreigner doesn't qualify to own the property, so that is another challenge.

"But the effort (to reward Durakovic, Mitchell and Biskic) does not stop there."

"A discussion (on the issue) is on the way. We wrote to the state government, received some feedback. So now, we move to the next step which will be about the foreign players.

"We have not had the meeting yet, it's pending... the state government to call. We have a few suggestions, we will wait and see. The state government will know better on a suitable solution."

Izrin said the FAS were elated to see the happiness on the faces of their former players and their family members as their 27-year wait finally came to an end today.

"To be honest, a lot of the efforts came from the players themselves because they had the documentation.

"So through FAS president Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and FAS, we reopened the discussion," said Izrin.

"It was easy because we have a supportive state government and that was our role because that was the only thing they needed."

It was emotional to see joy and excitement among the former players and officials who brought their family members to view their new homes.

Among them was Iman Shah, the son of the late football star Anuar Abu Bakar.

"My late father, who passed away due to heart cancer in 2019, did ask my mother (Siti Mariam Sathwee) to just wait because the early agreement (from Selangor) was to receive a piece of land (later converted to apartment)," said Iman.

"But we are happy and grateful, plus we can see a difference in my mother who in a way, can see my dad's wishes being realised."

Former Selangor captain Ismail Ibrahim is glad that their fight is finally over. "To get a conclusion to this saga is satisfying, it's a win-win situation," said Ismail.

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