GEORGE TOWN, May 10 — The fate of Penang head coach Jacksen F. Tiago and four foreign players will be decided after the Football Association of Penang (FAP) executive committee meeting next week, said team manager Mohd Azizudin Shariff.
Mohd Azizudin, who is also FAP vice-president said initially the meeting was schedule this week, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the date has been moved to next week.
“The meeting will be chaired by FAP president Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff Mushir Ariff and there are a few major decision to be made involving the four foreign players and head coach Tiago,” he told Bernama when contacted, here today.
He said the exact date of the meeting has yet to be fixed but is expected to be held at FAP office and will be attended by all the committee members. However, Azizudin said the management has yet to finalise on how many foreign players will be dropped from the team.
“At least one foreign player will be dropped from the team but all this will be decided after the meeting,” he said.
Penang’s four foreign players are defender Brent Griffiths (Australia), defender Reinaldo Lobo (Brazil), midfielder Mathias Cordoba (Argentina) and striker Osas Ikpefua (Nigeria).
Meanwhile, Tiago said despite rested, he is still under contract with FAP until November and is doing match analysis and report for the management. “I was told on Friday that the board has yet to make any decision on my situation. I need to wait until the next exco meeting before any decision can be made,” said Tiago, when contacted in Brazil.
Tiago has gone from hero to zero after guiding Penang to Super League promotion with a second placing in the second-tier Premier League last year. The Brazilian was rested on April 7 and replaced by his assistant, Manzoor Azwira Abdul Wahid.
After 10 matches, the Panthers are second from bottom in the Super League having won only one match, drawn three and lost six to collect six points. — Bernama
