Tricky decision for T-Team

Kuala Lumpur: After chalking up a decent pre-season performance in Kuantan and Klang Valley which ended  today, it is now  five days of crunch time for T-Team. Exactly seventeen days before the start of the 2017 Malaysian Super League season,  they have to defer making a crucial decision on their fourth import player.

Undoubtedly it is not an easy call. 

Rahmad: Both have good points

T-Team's Indonesian Head Coach, Rahmad Darmawan, explains: "Both Shavkat (Salamov) and Mamadou (Samassa) have good points with different playing styles. As such we cannot decide now. We have thus asked them to continue following us until 9 January." 

He adds, "Our criteria include the player's versatility to play as attacking midfileder, second striker or striker. Ultimately it will be a question of who the team needs more." 

Initially they were almost certain of signing up Shavkat to replace influential but injured Malian midfielder, Makan Konate. However soon they were also presented with the opportunity of assessing Mamadou, Malian former French Under-21 player, as a potential second import striker. Therefore their ten-day pre-season friendly games had become the perfect opportunity for the Kuala Terengganu based club to assess who would likely be the best option for the team.


The recent friendly games' results:

1.  27 Dec: Kuantan FA (1) vs T-Team (1)
2.  29 Dec: PDRM (1) vs T-Team (2)
3. 2 Jan: ATM (1) vs  T-Team (3)
4. 3 Jan: Sime Darby (0) vs T-Team (2)
5. 4 Jan: Felda United (2) vs T-Team (3)

For one thing, Uzbek striker Farhod Tadjiyev seems to be as deadly as before he was being forced out by injury, in his first season with the club midway in 2015 - scoring a few goals in the recent friendlies.

On the friendly games, Rahmad Darmawan, who decided to stay with T-Team for the second season, says: "I am very pleased to see the back-up team playing well with commendable scheme of play." While teamwork is progressing well with good individual performance, he says there are still areas for improvement .  

He cites two reasons for staying with T-Team.

First, the head coach loves Terengganu. Second, he has been given a target which is to better last season's performance commensurate with budget and quality players.