KFA tie down Fayadh and Fadzrul to safeguard club’s interest

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Mac -- Pemain Malaysia Muhammad Akhyar Rashid (kanan) pemain Laos Aphixay Thanakhanty dalam perlawanan pusingan kelayakan Kejuaraan Konfederasi Bolasepak Asia (AFC) B-23 Thailand 2020 di Stadium Shah Alam. Keputusan separuh masa kedua Malaysia 1-0 Laos --fotoBERNAMA (2019) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

PETALING JAYA: Once bitten, twice shy as Kedah want to avoid another Akhyar Rashid saga.

The Red Eagles, realising the tremendous impact made by winger Fayadh Zulkifli Amin and midfielder Fadzrul Danel Nizam, have decided to extend their contract from three to five years and add a RM5mil buyout clause on each player.

The Kedah Football Association’s (KFA) secretary general Asmirul Anuar Aris announced this on the club’s social media page.

“This move is in line with our vision and mission to take care of the players’ welfare and also preserve their talents and our rights,” said Asmirul.

Fadzrul has been a regular in the engine room this season forging a partnership with skipper Baddrol Bakhtiar.

Super sub Fayadh is a fan favourite. He was instrumental in the 3-2 victory over PKNS (June 18) when he scored the winner with a sublime individual effort.

Both of them had just returned from a training stint with English Championship club Cardiff.

The KFA learnt a bitter lesson when Akhyar decided to join five-time Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) while still under contract last season.

The case was then referred to the Football Association of Malaysia which ruled that the 19-year-old is allowed to buy out his contract for RM210,000.

It was also decided that his new club would have to pay Kedah RM75,000 in development fees which did not go down well with the KFA.