KL load up on talent (The Malay Mail)

KUALA LUMPUR will get a big infusion of talent for the Malaysia Cup
competition starting on Sept 21 with the return of six Olympic 2000
players.
 KL coach Mat Zan Mat Aris, while happy with the new players at his
disposal, is at a loss as to how he will fit them into the team.
 He will, in fact, have seven new players as defender Yuzaiman Zahari,
left out of the Olympic 2000 squad to undergo a nose operation, is now
available.
 The other six currently with Olympic 2000 in Japan are goalkeeper
Jamsari Sabian, defenders M. Karunakaran, S. Jayaprakash and M. Gopal and
midfielders Mohamad Shawal Mohamad Johadi and Rosle Derus.
 Karunakaran played for KL in the M-League this season before gettting a
late call-up to the Olympic side.
 "It is good that I will not have to look far to strengthen the team for
the Malaysia Cup competition," said Mat Zan.
 "But I will also have to decide on the players I need and how I am going
to fit them into the team.
 "We already have 21 players and there are only four places available to
make the maximum 25 allowed.
 "I have to be fair to the present players who have worked very hard to
put us in the Malaysia Cup competition and the FA Cup semifinals.
 "I cannot discard them."
 Mat Zan said the admission of the Olympic players will strengthen the
team and give depth to the squad.
 He is considering registering a few of them with the M-League side and
the rest with the Reserve League.
 "I will have to discuss the matter with the management committee before
making any decisions because of the extra expenditure involved.
 "KLFA are working on a tight budget and we have to be careful on our
spendings," sai Mat Zan.
 States get first pick on their Olympic players. Only if they cannot
accommodate them, will the players be released.
 But there is a possibility of the FA of Malaysia coming up with a
different plan for the Olympic players after the qualifiers.
 The other players with Olympic 2000 are: Abdul Rauf Ahmad and Jaafar
Mohamad Salleh (both Selangor), M. Elangoo and Chow Chee Weng (both Negri
Sembilan, Das Gregory Kolopis (Sabah), Gilbert Cassedy Gawing and Johnny
Joseph (both Sarawak), Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli and Mohamad Rafdi Rashid
(both Kedah), Megat Amir Faizal Ibrahim (Penang), Mohamad Sany Muhammad
Fahmi (Johor), Muhammad Khalid Jamlus (Perak) and Tg Hazman Raja Hassan
(Kelantan).
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