Cheng Hoe gets ‘slightly better’ deal from his beloved Kedah

# Award winning coach signs a one-year deal with Kedah FA

# Fully focused on taking Kedah football to greater heights

By Rizal Abdullah

It is not the best of deals he had expected but former international Tan Cheng Hoe has signed a new one-year with Kedah – a day after Boxing Day. 

With time constraints Cheng Hoe had to get things going and accepted the “slightly better” deal for the 2017 season after leading Kedah to the prestigious Malaysia Cup title to close the 2016 season on a bright note.

Earlier Kedah has finished third in the elite-12-team Super League and the FA Cup semi-finals as the Red Eagles challenged the big names in the M-League.

“It was rush job in signing the new contract,” said Cheng Hoe was named this year’s Best Coach at the 2016 National Football Awards last Friday.

Now that it is black and white his coaching job safe at least for the next season, Chen Hoe is putting his expertise as a qualified Pro License coach, knowing that he has the material to get the Red Eagles going for another hectic season.

There has been minimal movement of players although rivals came chasing Kedah’s star players, including Rizal Ghazali, who walked away with the Best Defender award at the National Football Awards.

“I am glad that I have the best football talent in the state still with me. They can only get better after coming through the mill this season,” added Cheng Hoe, who did not stop heaping praise on his “sifu” – former national coach Datuk K. Rajagobal.

Cheng Hoe served as Rajagobal’s assistant during his tenure as the national coach.

“I owe a lot to what I am today. My ‘sifu’ (Rajagobal) who taught me the finer points of coaching and even until today we keep in touch with each other. I will not hesitate to call my ‘sifu’ when the need arises.”

Kedah have parted ways with three of their foreign players – former New Zealand international and World Cupper Shane Smeltz, who has returned to the Australian League to play for Wellington Phoenix, Brazilian Thiago Augusto who was on loan from Felda United and Korean defender Bang Seung-hwan.

This is Cheng Hoe’s fourth year with the Red Eagles. 

After winning the Malaysia Cup for Kedah and a respectable third place finish behind champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) and runners-up Felda United in the elite Super League, Cheng Hoe was on the radar of several teams.

However, his love for his homestate, sees him stay put with the Red Eagles and Kedah should be front-runners for honours in 2017.