T-TEAM coach Azraai Khor Abdullah (pic) has quit T-Team.
The 62-year-old ended the speculations on his future with the Kuala Terengganu club when he announced his resignation at a press conference at T-Team headquarters yesterday.
Talks about Azraai leaving T-Team had begun when the Kedah-born coach failed to keep them in the Super League when they finished second last and were relegated to the Premier League.
His initial target when taking over the team from Che Ku Marzuki Che Ku Mohd Nor late last year was to end the season as one of the five best teams in the country.
But the former Perak and Negri Sembilan coach had to endure the disappointment of being relegated to a lower league.
Azraai, who found success with Kedah as double treble champions in 2006/07 and 2007/08, admitted he was responsible for the end of T-Team’s presence in the Super League after five years.
With just over a year left on his contract, Azraai said it was better for him to end his relationship with T-Team as he was no longer motivated to coach the team.
“The most important thing for me now is to go home, celebrate Hari Raya and spend quality time with my family.
“As for the Malaysia Cup competition, it is about time that I become just a spectator," he said.
Club chief operating officer Syahrizan Mohd Zain said Azraai’s decision was not unexpected although he thought it was too soon for the coach to announce his resignation.
“We knew this day would come after we lost our relegation battle but I did not know that it would be this soon and we all have to respect his wish to part company with us.
“He did his best here with the Titans but I guess his best was just not good enough and now we have to look for a new coach to take us through the Malaysia Cup campaign.”
Syahrizan said at the moment, assistant coach Azlan Johar will be the caretaker coach to prepare the team as the Malaysia Cup competition will start in just over two weeks’ time.