ALOR SETAR : The Kedah FA (KFA) have dropped all of their five foreign players for the 2019 M-League season.
Liridon Krasniqi, Sandro Mendonca, Alvaro Linares, Paulo Rangel and Andik Vermansyah were officially informed by KFA on Friday.
KFA confirmed this on their Facebook page on Friday after Kosovo Albanian Krasniqi and Brazilian Mendonca posted goodbye messages on their social media accounts.
“Thank you Kedah for everything. Today is a sad day but that is how life is (as a footballer). Thank you to all the coaches who made me what I am today.
“If I had done anything wrong, I would like to apologise now and also please forgive me. I had four amazing seasons with Kedah,” said Krasniqi, who played 105 matches and scored 38 goals during his tenure with Kedah since 2015, on his Instagram account.
Mendonca said: “Thank you to all the fans who gave me undivided support when I was with Kedah.
“I had a memorable four years in Kedah. I was informed by KFA via email that my contract will not be extended, a decision made by the management.
“It is normal in football. We need to be professional and look ahead. I am very happy with the achievements I had with this club,” said Mendonca.
Krasniqi and Mendonca were instrumental in helping Kedah win the 2015 Premier League, 2016 Malaysia Cup and 2017 FA Cup titles.
Kedah have appointed Singapore’s Aidil Sharin Sahak as their new coach for next season.
Aidil is regarded as the ‘Pep Guardiola’ of Asian football, a distinction he earned after guiding his S-League side Home United to the AFC Cup Asean zonal on two occasions.