KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 – As we all know that everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon of success – especially in Malaysia – and it is no different with last year’s Premier League champions Penang FC with local hero Manzoor Azwira as the coach.
Winning the second-tier title came with a promotion to the elite Malaysian Super League, and with that, came a change in the coaching job with Tomas Trucha taking over the hot seat because Manzoor had no AFC pro coaching license.
The Czech landed the Penang job after he abandoned his Kenyan club AFC Leopards, a Premier League side, after only one match, following threats of bodily harm to him and his agent.
Trucha has done fairly well to guide Penang FC to fourth place in the elite after 13 matches with 22 points before the M-League league took a break for international assignments for the national team.
According to reliable sources, the Czech, however, has not been in the good books of some directors of Penang FC because he has a ”split personality” and wants things to be done his way. Best said it is ”My Way” with Trucha – thanks to some board members.
However, it has not gone down well with others, especially with the selection of some players.
Like many other teams in Malaysia, the “hidden hands” also playing a role in Penang to make money through deals for players.
During the second transfer window, Penang has signed up two new players on loan from Kuala Lumpur City FC. They are Azim Rahim and Fauzan Fauzi.
According to sources, the management is divided and some have called for Trucha to be replaced as the chief coach and instead, made the technical director of Penang FC.
In fact, Trucha’s replacement has already been identified but has not been revealed yet.
The Penang FC management is expected to meet on Tuesday (June 1) on the matter.
Expect some surprises but nothing has been confirmed. It is left to be seen if Trucha remains at the helm or a new man takes on the hot-seat from the Czech.
In their last match, Penang was soundly beaten 3-0 by seven-time Malaysian Super League champion Johor Darul Takzim at the City Stadium on May 5.
When the league resumes. Penang travel to Alor Setar to face Kedah on July 6.
Kedah is in third place behind JDT and Terengganu with 26 points. JDT leads the standings with 30 points while Terengganu is second on 27.
(Pic credit to Penang FC)
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