PETALING JAYA, Nov 20 – After an impressive run in Super League in their debut in the elite league this season UiTM FC is setting lofty targets in the new season – including a place in the AFC Cup.
The university team retained the services of their German head coach Frank Bernhardt for another season for continuity and to take their game to a higher level.
The former Malaysian Under-23 coach took UiTM Fc to sixth place in the Super League and also a place in the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals. against some of the big names in Malaysian football.
On Friday, the soft-spoken German killed all speculations of him moving to another team when he penned his signature on the dotted line for a new contract that runs through November 2021 and has faith the team will deliver again.
“We are not kindergarten. The team showed it is on par with the rest this season. I am ready to take the team to greater heights and the work starts now,” said Bernhardt during a press conference after signing his contract at the UiTM FC Sports Complex in Shah Alam.
“Rumours of me moving to another team are not true. I am very happy working with the management and the players here. Why should I move and start all over again in a new place when all is done professionally here?
“It will be tough in the new season but we will be ready for the challenge. I have faith in the team. There is a movement of players from this year’s team but we will work on what we have and will get better quality replacements to build a stronger team despite a small budget,” said the German.
UiTM FC has retained nine local players from this year’s squad and will pick the rest of the squad from open trials next month. UiTM FC will have a new foreign legion after Rabih Ataya (Lebanon) and Frenchmen Victor Nirrennold and Ousman Fane left the team.
Prof Dr. Azizan Abdullah, president of UiTM FC, is confident that Bernhardt will be able to achieve the target next year – retain its place in the Super League with an eye on winning a place in the AFC Cup.
Among the names retained include Azar Arif, Afif Asyraf, Ahmad Khuzaimee Piee, Narshan Elias, Sharif Alhafiz, and Azam Jais.
In the Malaysia Cup first round UiTM FC downed Kelantan 3-2 to advance to the quarter-finals under the new format for the oldest football competition. However, the Malaysia Cup was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The university side was to meet Penang for a place in the last four.
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