Kelantan FA Struggles To Stay In MSL

Despite signing sponsorship deals with Malaysian sports retailer Al-Ikhsan, Yakult and Rohm Wako Electronics yesterday, Kafa president Bibi Ramjani Ilias Khan said the association has yet to reach even half of their intended target.

“We require an allocation of a minimum RM10 million(US$2.52m) to run the team but we have not even reached 50 percent yet,” said Bibi Ramnjani.

“I have been using personal funds to pay the salaries of the players, including December’s wages, because our sponsorship is not enough to cover it. However, with more sponsors coming on board it will ease the burden on Kafa.”

“With the sponsors taking care of our travelling expenses and equipment, Kafa only need to focus on paying the players’ salaries.”

Bibi Ramjani added Kelantan’s precarious finances is one reason why they only retained 20% of last season’s squad. Despite overhauling the team, the Kafa president is confident the Red Warriors can achieve success on the pitch by finishing in the Super League’s top-five this season.

“We only retained the local players who were still under contract with Kelantan and forced to find four new import players,” she said.

“However, I am confident in the strength of our team and I believe we are capable of finishing among the top five. To win a title would be a big bonus.”

In recent years, the Red Warriors have been making the news for financial issues, including a rather strange, big-money sponsorship deal with local herbal beauty brand Pamoga Qu Puteh in 2016 as well as the failure to pay long overdue salaries to players and coaches. With one of the strongest fanbases in Asean football, the Red Warriors are certainly an easy proposition for lucrative, long-term local sponsorship deals, but its recent woes show that more needs to be done before brands invest in the team.