PETALING JAYA: Harimau Malaya player Gabriel Palmero (pic) only got to see action with Kuching City for a little over a month, but he has been made to feel right at home in Sarawak.
The 24-year-old, who joined the Cats earlier last month, is currently serving his 12-month suspension from official matches following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision last week.
Although suspended from official matches, Palmero, along with six other Harimau Malaya players, are allowed to participate in football-related activities with their respective clubs.
Following the ruling, Palmero left Kuching fans a message, thanking them for welcoming him since his arrival last month.
“For all the fans, thank you for everything. Since I started playing (with Kuching), I have always felt comfortable and it has been such a good experience.
“I wish the team and all the supporters good luck. The club is always with me. Thank you for everything,” he said on Kuching’s social media pages.
The former CD Tenerife player was left without a club from last November after the Spanish side ended his contract following sanctions from FIFA, but was handed a lifeline after CAS temporarily lifted the ban in January.
Palmero made three appearances for Kuching and scored one goal during their Malaysia Cup quarter-finals clash against Brunei, which they won 3-1 last month.
The six other players also suspended are Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.
After the one-year suspension is over, Palmero will return to play for Kuching City.
