PENANG has signed up nine foreign footballers to boost its chances in the Malaysia Super League this season after a dismal performance in 2022.
Team manager Ong Eng Hua said only Brazilian Santos de Freitas Rafael Vitor has been retained out of the five foreign players who featured for the Panthers last season.
This is the fourth year that Vitor, a 30-year-old centre-back, will be featuring for Penang. He is also the Penang team captain.
The eight new foreign players are An Sae-hee (South Korea – age 30, defender), Zaw Min Tun (Myanmar – 31, defender), Cristian Ryu Yamaguchi (Japan – 23, defender), Ousmane Fane (France – 30, defensive midfielder), Curt Jordan Dizon (Philippines – 30, midfielder), Adriano Aparecido Narcizo (Brazil – 29, forward), Giovane Gomes da Silva (Brazil – 28, forward) and Hassan Ali Saad (Lebanon – 31, forward).
According to Ong, Penang has also signed up several local players and has been having a good build-up to the Super League.
It won the inaugural Piala Harapan, an invitational quadrangular tournament, by beating Selangor 2-1 in the final at the State Stadium in Batu Kawan on Feb 4 (Saturday). The other two teams which took part were Kedah and Geylang International FC.
“Over the past month, we played six friendly games and won all of them.
“Most important of all is to perform well and get good results in the first five matches of the Super League. We must keep the momentum. If we don’t do well in the early stage, it will be difficult to chase the other teams,” Ong said.
In the friendlies before the Piala Harapan final, Penang defeated Perak 1-0, UiTM 3-1, Negeri Sembilan 2-0, Manjong 3-0, Penang Reserves 4-0 and Geylang International FC 4-0.
Last season, Penang finished last in the 12-team tournament. It, fortunately, escapes demotion as the Super League has been expanded to 14 teams this season.
Penang is now being coached by former state player Manzoor Azwira, with Chong Yee Fatt and Md Noor Md Derus as his assistants.
Penang will open its campaign this season with an away match against KL City on Feb 25.
The Penang team:
Players:
Goalkeepers: Muhammad Azfar Arif Mohd Sukri (age 24), Shafiq Afifi Suhaimi (24), Khatul Anuar Md Jalil (26).
Defenders: Mohammad Khairul Akmal Rokisham (25), Mohammad Fairuz Zakaria (26), Muhammad Adib Abdul Ra’op (24), Namathevan Arunasalam (25), Muhamad Azmeer Aris Nor Rashid (24), Mohammad Farish Shah Mohd Rosli (28), An Sae-hee (30), Zaw Min Tun (31), Cristian Ryu Yamaguchi (23), Santos de Freitas Rafael Victor (30).
Midfielders: Ousmane Fane (30), Asnan Ahmad (30), Marcus Mah Yung Jian (28), Mohammad Amer Azahar (28), Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat (24), Muhamad Nur Izzat Che Awang (25), Muhamad Faizat Ghazali (29), Mohammad Rahmat Makasuf (26), Muhammad Hadin Azman (29).
Forwards: Curt Jordan Dizon (29), Adriano Aparecido Narcizo (29), Giovane Gomes da Silva (28), Hassan Ali Saad (31).
Officials:
Datuk Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah (team adviser), Ong Eng Hua (team manager), Noor Azrul Manso (assist. team manager), Kamal Kalid (technical director), Manzoor Azwira Abd Wahid (head coach), Chong Yee Fatt (assist. head coach 1), Md Noor Md Derus (assist head coach 2), Mat Saiful Mohamad (assist coach), Mohamad Hisham Jainudin (goalkeeper coach), Mohd Zahidibudiman Ibrahim (fitness coach), Anwar Azahari (video analysis), Muhammad Ridhwan Noor Akmal (physio), Mohamad Sufie Norazizan (kitman), Tun Mohammad Fadzrul Redza (media officer).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of Penang FC