KUALA LUMPUR: Armed with two Brazilians and a South Korean, PJ City FC will head for the new M-League season starting on Feb 28 with much optimism.
K. Devan, coach of the Super League team, is confident his men can hold their own against the other challengers.
Retaining eight players from last year’s squad that finished eighth in the Super League, Devan feels that he has strength on the PJ bench.
“We have two good players in every position and that should work as an advantage for us this year,” said Devan.
“This year we have 75 per cent new players but we have got the players according to the positions and we have two in each. This brings a good balance and we have also signed good foreigners this year.”
The Phoenix will be powered by Brazilians Washington Brandao and Elizue Araujo who were retained from last year’s squad and the other foreign power in PJ are South Korean Kim Bong Jin, Mark Andrew Hartmann of the Philippines and Papua New Guinea’s Aboubacar Demba Camara.
Aside from their foreigners, Devan is also excited with the signings of goalkeepers Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed and Damien Lim, who are national player material.
Meanwhile, PC City FC owner Datuk Seri Vijay Eswaran said they are working to make the PJ Stadium in Kelana Jaya their home.
PJ City FC general secretary Ganesh Shanmugam said: “We have collaborated with MBPJ and have a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with them where we will invest, it takes a lot of money for the field, infrastructure and track. Because we play only 25 times in a year, it is also something to give back to the community,” he said.
“In upgrading the field, we will have exclusive use (of the stadium) for the next five years. It’s part of our CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiative for the Qi Group.”
Yesterday, the Qi Group-owned PJ City FC unveiled their new home and away kit (their second year with Puma) for the 2020 season. The baby-blue home colour of PJ City is similar to that of EPL club Manchester City, which the Qi Group has established ties with.
Fans of PJ City FC can buy the team’s new jersey during their first home game on March 6. Spectators will also stand a chance to win motorcycles - a Yamaha Y15 and a Honda Dash - during PJ City’s first home game and another bike in their other home games.