CLUBS MUST GIVE PRIORITY TO SALARY, WELFARE OF PLAYERS - KL ROVERS HEAD COACH

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur Rovers (KL Rovers) head coach Wan Mustaffa Wan Ismail hopes that the welfare of players in terms of salary payment and training will be a priority in everything that happens involving a club.

He said clubs should emulate Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) which always prioritises its players.

"My hope (if) there is a new management or sponsorship, I feel it is better and the most important thing is that we have to emulate JDT who always prioritises players.

"It is not just (management) to take over and take positions, but we want the main thing for them to be responsible and the players to be given priority in terms of training, commensurate salary and on time.

"Because, players are the commodity for all the officials and management, if there are no players there is no club, officials or management. Everything will be gone, so whatever happens, I hope the players will be prioritised," he said at a press conference after the Malaysia Cup round of 16 match between KL Rovers and JDT, here last night.

He said this when asked to comment on rumours that there were parties offering to buy the club.

Yesterday, the media reported that the KL Rovers club will be sold for RM3.5 million with a local and foreign company understood to have expressed interest in buying the club.

Meanwhile, when asked if financial issues were a factor in the round of 16 action which was supposed to take place at home and away, Wan Mustaffa said there were other factors that influenced the decision and the club expressed its appreciation for the cooperation offered by JDT.

The venue for the inaugural Malaysia Cup 2024/25 match between JDT and KL Rovers yesterday was supposed to take place at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium, Cheras but was changed to the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.

JDT beat KL Rovers 3-0 and the return match between the two teams is also scheduled at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Nov 30.

-- BERNAMA