PETALING JAYA: Kelantan’s owner Norizam Tukiman took responsibility for the 10-0 defeat to Johor Darul Ta’zim but also took a potshot at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for delaying the registration process of his new foreign players.
“I apologise for the 0-10 defeat against JDT. I’m from Johor but I am the owner of Kelantan. The owner does not want his club to lose like this. Because of privatisation, I’m in the world of football,” he said in his Facebook posting on Saturday.
“I’ve tried to bring new team coaches and they have all been registered. But new imports cannot be registered due to technical problems with the TMS (Transfer matching system) which only FAM can help from the opening of transfer on July 27.
“Kelantan only had four days to register before the window closed.
“The TMS technical problem is very easy to solve, but can only be accessed after Aug 4, which is after the closing date of the registration of foreign players on Aug 1.
“If Kelantan can register, of course, we won’t lose as badly as this.
“The double standard attitude of some FAM officials towards Kelantan is very disappointing. I know Kelantan will be fined and will be subject to action due to my comment ... I’m used to it.”
In the absence of the foreigners, Kelantan fielded their young boys and they were taught a heavy lesson and their confidence was ripped to shreds by the mighty JDT.
The Red Warriors, reeling from the 1-5 defeat in the Malaysia Cup last 16 first-leg game in Kota Baru on Aug 4, were just outplayed in the second leg.
Kelantan coach Alfredo Vera was distraught and felt the scoreline could have been worse.
“I knew we would lose. I thought we would lose with a bigger margin. Our two stoppers (defenders) aren’t stoppers. They are fullbacks,” said the Argentine.
“We did not have options. We took the players from the second squad, some from the President and Youth team. They are not prepared for this stage.
“I hate to lose. But we have to realise where we are now. If we are strong, we would not be at the bottom,” he added.
