AYER KEROH: The Melaka United Soccer Association (MUSA) have kept with green and white colours for the team’s jersey for the coming season of the Malaysia League (M-League).
The new jersey which maintains the teams colours was unveiled during the jersey and players introduction ceremony which was officiated by MUSA president who is also Melaka Chief Minister, Adly Zahari, here earlier today (Saturday).
Adly said that the colours were relevant as it represents purity and truth which is in line with the state government’s motto of ‘smart, green, clean’, which places an emphasis on transparency and integrity even in sports.
He is also hoping that this year will be a good year whereby the team will achieve success, as their last taste of silverware was more than two years ago when they emerge as Premier League champions in 2016 which gained them promotion to the Super League.
“A sizeable budget has been prepared for this purpose and this is why we have signed up quite a number of top, experienced players,” he said.
The Hang Tuah squad for the new season has also been beefed up with the additions of four former national team captains in Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Razman Roslan, Shukor Adan and Safiq Rahim.
Meanwhile where foreign imports are concerned, Melaka have roped in former Kedah midfield maestro, Kosovan Liridon Krasniqi, who joins 29-year-old South Korean defender Jang Suk Won, 31-year-old Montenegrin midfielder Darko Markovic, 32-year-old former PKNS Brazilian center-forward Anselmo Casagrande and 30-year-old Philippines international right winger Patrick Reichelt.
"With such a line-up of top, experienced players, we are confident that this squad will be able to compete with the league’s perennial heavyweights such as Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Pahang.
"Whatever it is I can assure all of you that we always prioritise on the players welfare, which will in turn lead to improved and better performances on the field,” Adly pointed out.
Melaka’s first match of the new season will be against Petaling Jaya City at the Hang Jebat Stadium on February 2 (Saturday).