November 03, 2009 18:24 PM

KAFA To Solve Problems To Play In Malaysia League

KOTA BAHARU, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan Football Association (KAFA) on Tuesday gave assurance that it would urgently resolve its internal problems to participate in next season's Malaysia League.

KAFA president, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, said the association had given assurance to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to participate in the M-League and resolve its problems, like debts.

"I feel this matter is not a problem for Kelantan which has provided assurance to resolve the arrears matter if that is what will prevent us from competing.

"For the record, Kelantan has paid its debts totalling more than RM1 million in stages," he told reporters after feting state players who played in the Malaysia Cup final to lunch here Tuesday.

Also present was team manager Azman Ibrahim and head coach B. Sathianathan.

Yesterday, FAM vice-president Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, after chairing the FAM local competition committee meeting at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, said Kelantan and Perak where among six teams not qualified to compete in the Malaysia League 2010 after being found not adhering to FAM conditions.

Che Mat said the six teams failed to comply with FAM rules like paying players' salary arrears and Employee Provident Fund contributions up to the last date of Oct 31.

Meanwhile, at the same function all Kelantan players received RM66,000 as a bonus for qualifying to play against Negri Sembilan this Saturday.

Annuar said it was a promise made to the players for advancing the state to this stage.

He gave assurance to take the players to a tour destination of their choice after the final.

Kelantan had before more than RM100,000 to the players for making it to the quarter-final and semi-final.

He said Kelantan also would also take 1,000 young and former Kelantan players to watch the final match at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.

"Kelantan will also hire a train dubbed 'The Red Warriors Train' to transport 1,000 Kelantan supporters who need only to pay RM60 for the to and fro journey," he said.

The train will leave Tumpat at 10.30pm this Friday and leave Kuala Lumpur at 2am after the match.

He said Kelantan supporters can also send a SMS to number 32728 to state players beginning Thursday to provide support.

Annuar also urged the state government to declare a public holiday on Sunday so that its more than 50,000 supporters do not rush to get home after the match as a step towards ensuring their safety.

Tomorrow the state government will announce a "special supplement" for state players if they win the Malaysia Cup.

In KUANTAN, Football Association of Pahang (FAP) said it would file an appeal to the FAM.

Its secretary, Ahmad Nazri Mat Noor said the FAP was in process of remitting the EPF subscriptions.

"We understand the procedures and we have to wait for the confirmation letter from the EPF. We are confident that we will be in action again.

"We are saddled with only the EPF remittance and we have no problem with outstanding salaries.

"We will provide all supporting documents at the FAM Council meeting," he said when contacted.

-- BERNAMA

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