KOTA BARU, Dec 29 ― January 6. That's the date when the Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) will decide whether to remain in the Malaysia Super League or withdraw from the tournament.
That's also the last date for registration of players for the tournament, also referred to as the M-League.
Kafa had said it was considering withdrawing from the tournament due to financial constraints.
Its acting president, Datuk Seri Afandi Hamzah, said today the association was still trying to find sponsorship to enable Kelantan to play in the M-League next season.
Kafa held an extraordinary congress here today to discuss the critical financial problem it is facing.
“The congress agreed in principle to Kafa's desire to withdraw from the M-League if it cannot secure the necessary funds, but wanted the Kafa executive committee to look for sponsorship right up to January 6,” he said to reporters after the congress.
Kafa had reportedly wanted to withdraw from the 2017 M-League because it had secured only RM800,000 from minor sponsors when it would need about RM15 million.
Afandi said several quarters had expressed the desire to sponsor The Red Warriors but none had come forward to discuss the matter with Kafa.
“We require RM3 million at the initial stage for Kelantan to continue playing in the tournament or we will have to withdraw. We hope potential sponsors will come forward for a discussion with Kafa,” he said.
Afandi also said that the congress decided to nominate former Kafa president Tan Sri Annuar Musa to contest the post of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president next year. ― Bernama
