PETALING JAYA: Super League club Selangor are fishing for foreign and local talents to mount a stronger challenge in the domestic scene and AFC Champions League Two next season – following the exit of several players.
It’s learnt that their captain and Singaporean international centreback Safuwan Baharuddin is set to move on although he has a year left in his contract.
Selangor Football Association deputy president Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar, who is also a board member of the club and the transfer committee chairman, confirmed the names of a few outgoing players.
They are Venezuelan playmaker Yohandry Orozco, Jordanian striker Ali Olwan, Chilean striker Ronnie Fernandez and veteran goalkeeper Khairulazhan Khalid.
“Safuwan, however, has one year left with us. We are now discussing with him if there is a possibility for him to be loaned somewhere else. There are no major issues with him, he just wants a new challenge,” said Shahril.
Outgoing: Selangor captain Safuwan Baharuddin is looking for a new challenge.
“Then there are several other players who didn’t get many minutes and those who played in the MFL Cup that would be loaned out to clubs in Malaysia or even overseas.”
If indeed Safuwan is leaving the club, then there could be a new captain for the club, and Shahril said there were a few candidates.
“Nooa Laine is young but has good potential as captain and then there is Mickey (Faisal Halim), who has good leadership skills as well and captained us in some matches,” said Shahril.
Selangor finished second in the Super League last season and also won the Challenge Cup.
Shahril said the hiring process had taken place with coach Katsuhito Kinoshi monitoring new foreign and local players and they hoped to formalise the squad before the pre-season training officially starts on June 17.
“Together with coach Katsuhito, we are looking at several players to improve the team next season, to mount a stronger challenge in the domestic and continental stage,” said Shahril.
“We are looking at several names from Europe, South America, Southeast Asia and Japan. We have not confirmed the players yet but we look to secure them before pre-season training.”
Although he did not reveal the names, it is learnt that the Red Giants are closing in on Brazilian striker Willian Lira and Venezuelan international midfielder Juan Pablo Anor Acosta, better known as Juanpi in the world of football.
Lira, 31, last played for United Arab Emirates club Hatta and also had some Malaysian experience when he played for Kedah in 2023.
Acosta, also 31, is currently contracted with Greek Super League club Volos and has played for Venezuela 27 times in his career.
Indonesian international midfielder Eliano Reijndeers came close to joining the club but Shahril said the deal was off but he expected a big-name signing from the Southeast Asian region.
“We are working on deals and would look to get big names to the club. But we also note the fact that we can’t be spending over zealously.
“Plus getting top Southeast Asian players is a challenge as well, so that is something we are dealing with as well.
“We have to be prudent with our finances and learn from what has been happening in the league, especially with some sides looking to leave the league. We have to be smart with how we do business.”
