FEB 18 — It was supposed to be a trip to Legoland. Instead, former Kelantan coach Bojan Hodak — who donned a Johor shirt — was seen seated next to football pundit Serbegeth Singh (aka Shebby) at the VIP area in Larkin Stadium during the Johor Darul Takzim (JDT)-Selangor match on Saturday night.
As Hodak and Shebby watched the Southern Tigers maul the Red Giants 4-1, fans pondered if there were moves to replace JDT coach Cesar Ferrando Jiminez after the FA Cup quarterfinal return leg match against Kedah at Darulaman Stadium tonight.
JDT seem uncomfortable being placed sixth in the Super League after five matches. With an interesting line-up — from the likes of former Argentinean international Pablo Aimar, Luciano Figueroa to national players Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Safee Sali and Safiq Rahim — it is only natural to expect good results from the team.
Sources claimed the Croatian met Johor FA officials and it is “pretty much a done deal”.
So what’s the story Hodak? “I was supposed to take my son (Luka) to Legoland but there were no tickets so we couldn’t go,” he said.
“So I decided to watch a match at the stadium. I may visit Legoland this week instead.”
No deal signed? You just decided to go all the way to the Larkin Stadium to watch a match in a Johor shirt?
“Look, I’m a free man at this point in time. But as far as I am concerned, they have a coach at the moment so they are not free (no vacancy).”
What about rumours that you have already secured a spot there?
“People like to talk.” But why JDT, Hodak? “Why not?”
To be fair, many had asked him the same question when he took up stints coaching the now defunct UPB-MyTeam (2006– 2009) and Kelantan (2012-2013). He proved critics wrong by winning a string of trophies along the way. He was hailed in Kota Baru, after leading the Red Warriors to a treble in 2012, winning the FA Cup, Super League and Malaysia Cup. The east coast side retained their FA Cup title last year.
With the right money incentives and a star-studded cast, half the battle has already been won. All Hodak needs to do is just to manage egos. It is no walk in the park but he has done it before and passed with flying colours.
So would Hodak be the next JDT coach? Chances are likely.
Should he take it? That is an answer only Hodak is able to answer.
However, Hodak has a more important task at hand – to ensure Luka visits Legoland this weekend before the five-yearold kicks up a storm and decides to boycott Johor for good.
The ball is in your court Hodak. Make the right choice.
