Police players and staff hoist coach Dollah Salleh after clinching the Premier League title. - filepic
PETALING JAYA: Brazilian Charles Chad and Ali Ashfaq of Maldives are the aces in the pack for Police this season.
The dynamic duo were instrumental in Police lifting this season’s Premier League crown for the second time in their history. They won their first in 2007.
But there is another important man – coach Dollah Salleh.
The former international is known as the man with the Midas touch, having now guided a record four Premier League sides back to the top flight.
Besides Police, he also steered MPPJ FC (2004), Selangor (2005) and Pahang (2012) to the Super League.
The 50-year-old Dollah is also one of the most successful local coaches in the M-League. Last year, he guided Pahang to the Malaysia Cup crown.
His best achievement was with Selangor, whom he guided to the treble – Premier League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup – in 2005.
Dollah said it was the team effort which won them the title, but admitted that they could not have done it without Chad and Ali.
The two foreigners have both notched 16 goals apiece.
“I have to take my hats off to Chad and Ali,” said Dollah after Police thrashed Negri Sembilan 4-0 in their penultimate match at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Friday.
Police won the title with one match to spare. They have 52 points, five ahead of second-placed Felda United.
Both Police and Felda have also won promotion to the Super League next season.
“We have met our target. I must the credit the players for their consistent form, going undefeated in 19 matches. Now, we hope to make an impact in the Malaysia Cup,” said Dollah.
The other notable names in the squad are former Harimau Muda defender Muslim Ahmad, national striker Bobby Gonzales, defender Rafael Souza Novais of Brazi and midfielder Mohamadou Sumareh of Zambia.
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