Still the man: Kuala Lumpur will be banking on naturalised stalwart and veteran midfielder Paulo Josue in their 2024 campaign.
PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur are in need of RM2mil to settle their salary arrears before the start of the 2024-2025 Super League season.
Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) president Khalid Abdul Samad however, remains optimistic that the overdue payments can be resolved, as they have faced tough times in the past.
Khalid said that the arrears were not for four months as claimed by several players, but for October and November 2023 with each month needing RM1mil for the squad and coaching staff’s salary.
“The players’ contracts are only up to 30 November, but because the season’s schedule was changed, we had games in December, so we will compensate the players accordingly as it is outside their contract period,” he said during a press conference at the Cheras Football Stadium yesterday.
Khalid said the club need RM10mil to operate annually, but only receive RM6mil from the Kuala Lumpur City Council, and RM2mil for being ambassadors for Kuala Lumpur Low Carbon City.
Attempts to privatise the club had failed, with the recent majority acquisition from Rinani dropping to 10% as they failed to maintain their financial promise, leaving the club to fall back into the hands of KLFA.
Khalid said the late start of the season in May will also give the club time to acquire new sponsors that can ease their financial burden as players’ salaries are significantly reduced until contracts are signed.
However, he said this time the management will be cautious going into sponsorship deals as they will first ensure the company possess enough funds to be able to assist the club, at least RM5mil according to Khalid. “We are now waiting for funds from the city council, we will use that to settle the arrears when we get it.
“But then the cycle repeats as we will now be short of RM2mil for this year. That is why we need funds from sponsors that will be loyal and support us,” he said.
Khalid also said the ownership of Kuala Lumpur Rovers will change soon, as there were parties interested in the M3 League team, and the profits from the sale would be channelled to KLFA.
He said the change in ownership will allow Rovers to compete in the Super League by filling up the special slot for M3 clubs following the absence of Kelantan.
