SHAH ALAM: Steve Darby, the newly-appointed coach of defending champions Kelantan, has picked cash-rich Johor Darul Ta’zim I (JDT I) as the favourites to win the FA Cup next season.
The 58-year-old Englishman based his assumption on the players JDT I have signed.
Darby played down his team’s chances following the departure of their local players – Indra Putra Mahayuddin, Mohd Shakir Shaari, Mohd Norfarhan Mohd, Azizi Matt Rose, Mohd Rizal Fahmi Rosid, S. Subramaniam, Mohd Daudsu Jamaluddin and Mohd Izuan Solahuddin.
Kelantan, however, bolstered their squad with the signings of Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Shawky, Lebanese international Mohammed Ghaddar and Liberian striker Francis Doe. They have also retained Nigerian defender Obinna Nwaneri.
The FA Cup draw, which was done yesterday, sees Kelantan receiving a first-round bye. They will face the winners of the match between Kuantan FA and Sabah in the second round.
“I don’t want it to sound cliche but we will take it one game at a time. It’s hard to predict Malaysian football but, I think, we’ll most probably face Sabah in the second round,” said the former Perak coach.
“We have the quality despite losing a number of key players ... I understand why the players left and I wish them well. We have signed some good players but we’ll need some time to gel as a unit.
“JDT are the favourites next season. They have most of the national players in their squad and brought in several big foreign signings in a bid to end their title drought.”
The 25th edition of the FA Cup will see 30 teams vying for honours. The champions will get an automatic slot in the AFC Cup competition in 2015.
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