FIFA Ban Forces Kelantan FC to Rely on Limited Squad After Heavy Defeat

Kelantan Red Warrior FC (KRW FC) faces a stark reality after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Selangor FC in the Super League opener, with coach Irfan Bakti Abu Salim emphasizing the urgent need for better quality players. The team is currently hampered by a FIFA transfer ban, preventing the registration of any new talent.

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Whether we like it or not, these are the players we have.

"Whether we like it or not, these are the players we have," Salim stated, referring to the squad of 17 players and two goalkeepers. He revealed that nearly half of the current players were only called up at the last minute after being initially dropped due to the inability to register new signings. Salim has appealed to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for assistance in navigating this challenging situation.

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So I had to ask for the kindness of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in this matter. Otherwise, we are not fit to play in the Super League.

Salim had originally planned to recruit at least five foreign players, including a defender, two midfielders, and two strikers. He had identified several potential signings from Iran, Hong Kong, and Japan, but none could be registered. The lack of a potent striker is a significant concern. Furthermore, the delay in resolving the transfer ban meant the club missed opportunities to sign local players who could have bolstered the squad.

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Most importantly, we need a striker because of the lack of strikers in this team.

KRW FC is hopeful that the transfer ban will be lifted swiftly. Salim expressed concern that the issue could persist for several matches, drawing a parallel to a previous Kelantan team that suffered a significant 14-1 loss. He acknowledged the club's management is working diligently to resolve the problem with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), urging for a speedy resolution to allow the team to compete effectively in the Super League.

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I hope this situation does not drag on for five or six matches and hope we don't get beaten 14-1 like what happened to a team from Kelantan last season.