Tok Gajah coach and captain to stay

The Pahang Football Association (PFA) haveconfirmed that coach Zainal Abidin Hassan and team captain Mohd Razman Roslan would be with the squad next season.

Pahang FA president Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah said until now, he had yet to receive news they had received the offer or would be joining another team.

"I will also hold discussions with Pahang FA officials on the status of the players, including scrutinising again all their contracts which may expire this year."

He said this to reporters after attending a function at Darul Makmur Stadium here to celebrate the success of the Pahang team in the Malaysia Cup final last Saturday.

Tengku Abdul Rahman believed that most of the players who were the main pillars of the team in the Malaysia Cup 2014, would remain with the Tok Gajah squad.

However, he is giving the players the freedom to decide if they want to stay on or move on to other teams if they have a better offer.

On the future of import striker Dickson Nwakaeme, he said the player had expressed his wish to play in Europe and had announced he would be undergoing trials with a French club.

"If he fails there, he can return to Pahang next year as we will welcome him to play with the Tok Gajah squad," he said.

PHOTO GALLERY: PRE-MALAYSIA CUP 2014 EUPHORIA

PHOTO GALLERY: MALAYSIA CUP FINAL - JDT VS PAHANG

On new players who would be recruited into the squad, Tengku Abdul Rahman did not rule out Pahang buying several quality players in preparation for next year, especially for the AFC Cup.

"If I am given the opportunity, I will pick Kedah player Badrol Bakhtiar to play for Pahang but it must be done via the proper channel, as I don't want to take players who are still tied to their contracts," he said.

On the Malaysia Cup final on Saturday, Tengku Abdul Rahman said he was proud of all the players who showed high team spirit and did not give up despite playing with 10 players and a goal behind.

"We had to change our tactics because we lost a defender, Saiful Nizam Miswan. I admit it was uncomfortable then.

"However, I believe all the players had the determination to win and that was demonstrated during the match on Saturday. I admit that Pahang are definitely the 'King of Comebacks'," he said.