KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 – Relegated Police have landed vastly experienced Mat Zan Mat Aris for the new Malaysian Football League season and have offered the former international a one plus one contract.
The 62-year-old Rembau-born thus makes a return to the big league after this year’s M3 was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He was to coach Melawati FC.
Mat Zan will virtually start from scratch after Police were relegated to the second-tier Premier League and ended their Super League campaign without a win to show and with a minus one point.
Police were deducted three points by the FA of Malaysia for salary irregularities this year.
For the record, this year’s Super League and Premier League were decided on one round instead of the normal two rounds.
Johor Darul Takzim won the Super League title for the seventh consecutive year.
“Yes, I have agreed to a one plus one contract. This is a challenge for me as I don’t know the players available in the team. It is left to be seen who will turn up when the selection is down in the three-days,” said Mat Zan when contacted in Melaka on Saturday.
Mat Zan has strong credentials. During his playing career, Mat Zan has three Malaysia Cup winners medals and this was with Kuala Lumpur in 1987, 1988, and 1989.
He also has a gold medal from the 1989 Sea Games football competition.
His coaching career saw him take Kuala Lumpur to the FA Cup title in 1999 and the Charity Shield in 2000.
Mat Zan created history when he coached Terengganu to their first-ever Malaysia Cup title and also won the Charity Shield in 2001.
Melaka reaped dividends under Mat Zan when he guided the team to the FAM League title in 2015 and a year later Melaka won the Premier League title.
However, due to politics in the management, Mat Zan was unceremoniously dumped from the team.
”It is good to be back. I will not shirk my responsibilities and hope for commitment and discipline from the players. There is no short cut to success,” said Mat Zan.
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