Homegrown coach for state football

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MIRI: The Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) president Datu Sudarsono Osman is likely to keep faith with a local chief coach to fi ll the void left by former foreign coach 60-year-old Dutchman Robert Alberts.

Alberts, who is from the Netherlands, led Sarawak football for five years since April 2011 with high accomplishments but relinquished after a fourth consecutive defeat by Sarawak in the Super League, and duly handing his resignation last July.

Following the abrupt exit of the Dutchman, FAS currently placed state Under-19 coach Fuad Grbesic, 54, from Bosnia as head coach to lead the Crocs on remaining matches of the Malaysian Super League this season.

Moreover, Sudarsono said FAS has currently identifi ed several coaches in line for the plum job of chief coach, but the name has yet to be finalised.

To a thesundaypost query on when FAS will announce the new head coach, he said, “If it is possible, we would want the post to be filled by tomorrow; however FAS has obligations to check on first, particularly on the strategic direction of the state football development in the long term.”

He said although it was very tempting for FAS to keep Fuad in his current post, FAS are still open to the option for other candidates.

“This is because Fuad is the best person to lead the Under- 19 team, therefore FAS would want the Bosnian coach to focus on building a strong foundation among the U-19 players before they can another level up,” he added.

Sudarsono assured that the new head coach will hopefully be announced by FAS before the next season kicks off.

Meanwhile, he was present in Miri for the kick-off the Sarawak U-19 Youth Cup which stretches from yesterday until Sept 10.

Oganised by FAS and Football Association of Miri (FAM), the competition involves 300 players in 12 teams divided into three divisions: Div A – Mukah, Bintulu, Tabuan Jaya State Sports School and Sri Aman; Div B – Sarikei, Limbang, Sibu and Betong; and Div C – Miri, Samarahan, Kuching and Kapit.

The competition is held at five venues: Miri Stadium, MCC fi eld, IKBN field, IPD field and KRP field.

Matches (Sept 5-7; 8am, 3.30pm) will be held simultaneously at MCC, Miri Stadium and IKBN pitch. The quarterfi nals will be held on Sept 8 (3pm) at IPD, Miri Stadium, IKBN and KRP fi eld; Semifi nals (Sept 9, 3pm) are at IKBN and Miri Stadium and fi nal matches on Sept 10 at Miri Stadium (8am, 3pm).

The U-19 championship is to select potential young players to represent Sarawak for Sukma 2016.

“It is also a ground to scout for new potential players for the upcoming U-21 President Cup and U19 Youth Cup where the selected players will be drilled intensively at the training centre,” Sudarsono said.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Youth Cup organising chairman Duke Janting received the trophies for the championship from Lea Sports Centre (LSC) managing director Raymond Sim as the main sponsor of the event.

Also present were FAS vice president Datu Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and FAM president Mohd Saif Jubaidi.