# FAM deducts nearly RM600K from Pahang’s grant for next year
# Pahang paid a heavy price for not paying their former Moroccan player
There seems to be no end to Pahang’s miserable season this year – finishing empty handed after surrendering the FA Cup and the Malaysia Cup and “supplanted” of a place in the AFC Cup next season.
Pahang have also been hit hard financially when the FA of Malaysia (FAM) deducted more than half a million from their 2016 grant – FAM’s annual commitment to M-League teams.
On top of that the mass exodus of key players – skipper Razman Roslan, Hafiz Kamal, R. Gopinathan and Khairul Azhan Khalid – has left the Elephants crippled for the 2016 season. Head coach Zainal Abidin Hassan has also quit the team.
The financial setback with FAM secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin confirming that some RM600K will be deducted from next year’s grant to Pahang is a sucker punch that has left the Elephants reeling.
Pahang’s folly in not paying their former Moroccan player Mohamed Borji USD125,000 in salaries is certainly a lesson to other teams that FIFA takes a serious view if players are not paid.
The FAM, not wanting to risk further punishment from FIFA have wisely deducted USD125,000 for Borji’s overdue salaries plus 17,000 Swiss francs imposed as fine by FIFA over Borji’s case.
It is certainly a big financial setback for Pahang who are in the process of a putting up a decent side for the 2016 season. It is left to be seen who are the big names who will move to Pahang.
In another crippling blow the FAM deducted six precious points from Pahang in the Super League – which saw the Elephants slip to third place in the 12-team competition while Malaysia Cup champions Selangor moved into second spot.
This also saw Selangor gaining entry to the AFC Cup at the expense of Pahang.
Other players who have left Pahang for the new season are internationals Azamuddin Akil who has moved to Super League champions and AFC Cup winners Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) and Azidan Sarudin who has joined neighbours Terengganu.
Foreign hotshots Dickson Nwakaeme (Nigeria), Damion Stewart (Jamaica) and Matias Conti are also reportedly on the move. With Pahang facing financial constraints it is likely Nwakaeme will not find a place in the team while Conti is said to be heading to Singapore’s S-League.
Pahang have already named Zainal’s assistant Ahmad Shahruddin Rosdi, a former international, as the new head coach for the new season.
