Rajagopal not quitting coaching after Sarawak farce

Malaysia's coach Dato' K. Rajagobal dejected after his team draw during the friendly match against Hong Kong at Shah Alam stadium. --M. Azhar Arif/The Star.

PETALING JAYA: Datuk K. Rajagopal has no plans to quit coaching, yet.

The former international said he would look at other options after terminating his one-year contract as head coach with the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) on Saturday.

“It is just that things have not worked out in our favour. I was offered a new role in the FAS but I have other plans. Probably with a club or even a national team. As such, we have parted ways in an amicable manner,” said Rajagopal on Wednesday.

The 59-year-old former national coach helmed Sarawak at the start of the season in February, but paid the price for the Crocs’ appalling show in the Super League. The Crocs are anchored at the bottom of the 12-team standings with just six points in 10 matches.

They are in danger of missing the cut for the Malaysia Cup competition in July.

Under the new competition rules, the bottom-placed team at the halfway mark (11 matches) will not qualify for the Malaysia Cup.

Only the top 11 Super League sides and top five Premier League teams will compete in the Malaysia Cup. The teams will be selected based on their ranking at the halfway mark.

The FAS have named Rajagopal’s assistant David Usop as replacement for the rest of the season.

David’s first test will be against Perak at the State Stadium in Kuching on May 18.