Raja for hot seat? (The Malay Mail)

FORMER international K. Rajagopal has joined the race for the Selangor
coaching job.
 Rajagopal is the latest name to be bandied about to take over the reins
of the Red Giants - ironically, from his former assistant!
 Rajagopal, 42, is the only local figure among the four names in the
running for the hot seat
 The others are Kiwi Douglas Moore, the former Singapore national coach,
Australian Ronald Smith, the former Sabah coach who is with Johor FC and
Dane Jorgen Larsen, the Pahang coach.
 The Selangor M-League management committee, headed by FA of Selangor
(FAS) vice-president and team manager Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad, meet tomorrow
to decide on their coach for next season.
 The position is likely to be assumed by Rajagopal who has been the
Selangor Reserve League coach the last three years.
 Zainal Abidin Hassan could be assistant coach-cum-player.
 Zainal is attending an FA of Malaysia (FAM) coaching course in Penang
which started this morning.
 One of the main reasons for Selangor to opt for Rajagopal is the cost
factor. Hiring a foreign coach is going to cost them a bomb.
 After all, financial problems were the reason for parting with
Englishman Steve Wicks in midseason.
 Wicks was replaced by Ismail Zakaria, Rajagopal's assistant with the
President's Cup squad.
 Despite being overlooked for the job, Rajagopal took it like a
professional and stayed devoted to the junior team.
 Rajagopal won't be lost as Selangor coach as he was assistant to Ken
Worden in 1994 and 1995 and Bernd Schumm in 1993.
 Rajagopal also assisted Worden with the national team in 1991 and 1992.
 Rajagopal, who attained his A Licence in 1992, played as a striker for
Selangor from 1978 to 1984, winning five Malaysia Cup medals from six
final appearances.
 Rajagopal was discovered by Selangor while playing for his employers
PKNS in the Selangor League in early 1978.
 He also coached the PKNS from 1989-1991 before joining the Selangor
coaching staff on a part-time basis.
 Rajagopal was at the German Embassy yesterday afternoon to receive his
International `A' Licence coaching certificate together with Perlis'
Norizan Bakar from the third secretary of the Embassy, Gunter Obermeyer.
 When asked about the Selangor coaching job, Rajagopal said:
 "This is news to me. I've not been informed of anything by FAS. Besides,
the management committee have not even met yet and I don't think any
decision has been made.
 "But of course, I will accept the job if offered."
                             (END)