PETALING JAYA: It sounded like sweet music ringing in the ears of Kelantan’s football players. Team owner Norizam Tukiman announced yesterday that the management has settled all their salaries and there are no more arrears.
Norizam, who is fondly known as Zamsaham, also confirmed that the remaining 50% of the salaries withheld will be paid in full, thus hoping that the players will be able to give their best against Kelantan United on Friday.
“For this week’s match, give your best and win. If you don’t win, try to settle for a draw. If you lose, let’s lose with dignity,’’ he said.
“I have paid all the salaries, there are no arrears and I promise that the remaining 50% of the withheld salary will be paid. So, play well.
“I really want to win. That’s all,” he said through his Facebook account.
Norizam also explained that the team did not face salary arrears for up to two months and even though salary payments were made in stages, all players still received their full salaries.
“Before this, all the players got their full salaries. It’s true that we made salary payments in stages in the same month but all the players still got their full salaries for the month. It’s not true that we were behind two months of salary payments.
“But this happened because we continued to lose 10 times. I said I would give out full salaries in April, so give me the victory. Play really hard. I’m holding the salary as I want to see us win.
“It’s not easy to find the money, so make it worthwhile with a win. If we don’t win, get a draw.
“It’s our destiny then but we still have to work hard.”
After 12 matches, Kelantan are lying second last out of 14 teams in the Super League. They have only four points from one win and one draw.