Eager for action: Giancarlo Gallifuoco is set to join Kuala Lumpur’s pre-season training on March 18. — Kuala Lumpur FC
PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur’s star centreback Giancarlo Gallifuoco is entering his fourth season in the Super League and he expects this year to be a more testing one for the City Boys.
The 30-year-old Australian, who is set to join the team’s pre-season training on March 18, is aware of the changes ahead due to the financial crises plaguing some of the clubs in the league, including KL.
With many teams struggling to settle arrears from last season, they will be forced to resort to some austerity measures.
Even KL are looking to reduce their wage budget and cut down on the number of foreign players. It is learnt that instead of the allowed 10 by the Malaysian Football League, KL plan to get by with only five.
“The new season is going to be a tricky one. Over the last 10 years, the league has had a disparity problem. That problem is due to unequal financial backing from club to club,” said Gallifuoco.
“We can expect to go through a massive transition, and that transition is the clubs realising that maybe, they cannot keep up with the top three financially and they have to manoeuvre themselves around that.
“It’s going to be a season where two or three teams will be at the top and then, the rest of the league will be quite equal. I hope that creates an exciting and balanced league where there will not be a drop in quality.”
Gallifuoco said he had no issues with KL opting for just five foreign players as he’s all for the team giving the local players more opportunities to play.
“As a foreigner who has fallen in love with Malaysia, I hope that clubs realise that they don’t need to sign the allowed 10 foreign players for the sake of signing them,” he said.
“I think this should be a year where Malaysian clubs promote local and heritage players.”
He is hopeful that the team management can solve the problems plaguing the team so that the players can focus fully on giving their best on the field.
“We have had three fantastic years. Unfortunately, the club now have to deal with players’ salary issues. I pray for a year where the conversation is only about a small club, with a big heart, doing their best to make the fans proud instead of talking about money or management or problems behind the scenes.
“I’m already 30, but I’m still in my physical prime and I feel like I still have some good years ahead of me. I know the culture and football here.
“So I want to keep putting my foot on the accelerator, keep trying to be the best version of myself and be a good leader for the team.”
