Abdul Jalil Ramli
MIRI: It appears that the search is on for the next Sarawak football coach following the decision to ‘rest’ head coach Anai Igang @ Mohd Farhan Abdullah and his assistant David Usop.
Speculation is rife that the hot seat will be taken up by Abdul Jalil Ramli who is currently in charge of the Sarawak Under-19 team for the President Cup.
Sources said the 59-year-old Jalil, who led Sarawak to the 2001 Malaysia Cup final, will make a comeback to helm the senior team.
A household name in the Sarawak football scene, Bintulu-hailed Abdul Jalil Ramli was also the first captain of the Crocs who put Sarawak on the Malaysian football map by winning the 1992 FA Cup.
When contacted by The Borneo Post, however, Jalil expressed the wish not to comment and interfere with the management’s decision.
Meanwhile, FAS vice president Mohamad Saif Jubaidi denied that the former Sarawak skipper and coach has been contacted by FAS.
“Indeed there are ‘voices’ in the FAS that want Abdul Jalil Ramli to lead Sarawak again but the decision is not final,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
“What I can say now is that his focus is entirely on the Sarawak squad of the President Cup 2019,” he added.
The Young Crocs are currently preparing to face Kelantan on March 6 (Wed).
FAS decided to ‘rest’ Mohd Farhan and David Usop after Sarawak lost their last match 0-4 to UKM FC.
It was the third consecutive defeat for the Crocs in the new 2019 Premier League season.