African duo get the axe as Terengganu eye promotion

JOHOR BARU: The Terengganu FA decision to pack off Sierra Leone defender Mohamad Sillah and Togo striker Alfa Potowabawi is clear indication of their intentions this season. 

The Turtles want promotion to the Super League and will have stronger and better foreign players in the team. 

The African duo were unimpressive in training and in trials. Sillah lost his place to Brazilian Marcos Alexander Sores, who did enough in the recent friendly matches in the Klang Valley to join his countryman, striker Dos Santos, on the Terengganu payroll. 

SILLAH: The defender (right) irked the management by delaying his return until Jan 30 even though the management had sent him flight tickets early last month.

In friendly matches against fellow Premier League side ahead of the season opener against Police in Kuantan on Sunday, Terengganu beat Selangor MK Land 3-1 and drew 1-1 with Kuala Lumpur. 

Terengganu coach Yunus Alif said the decision to drop Sillah and Potowabawi was a warning from the team management that they would not tolerate indiscipline or lacklustre performances. 

Potowabawi returned to train with the team in Kuala Terengganu on Jan 9 while Sillah irked the management by delaying his return until Jan 30 even though the management had sent him flight tickets early last month. 

With Potowabawi out, Yunus said that the local strikers would have to snap on the chance to show that they can deliver the goods. 

Yunus, who guided Terengganu to FA Cup triumph in 2000, is set to put 21-year-old striker Mohd Nor Farhan Muhamad into the fray. 

“He has the talent and I think the exposure in a competitive league will do him good,” said Yunus. 

Terengganu have been drawn in Group B of the Premier League. Besides Police, their other opponents in the group are Johor, Johor FC, Negri Sembilan, Perak Jenderata, Selangor PKNS and Sarawak. Only the top team in the two-group Premier League gain promotion to the Super League. 

Last season Terengganu finished fifth in their group and failed to qualify for the Malaysia Cup competition. But in the FA Cup, they were the runners-up to Perak.