PENGARAH Besar Lembaga Kemajuan Tanah Persekutuan (Felda), Datuk Faizoull Ahmad tidak menolak kemungkinan Felda bakal mewarnai saingan Liga Hoki Malaysia (MHL) bagi musim depan.
“ Kami sememangnya komited dalam membantu meningkatkan mutu sukan negara ke tahap lebih tinggi lagi. Untuk menyertai liga hoki kebangsaan kami belum memikirkan lagi, namun ianya cadangan yang baik.
“ Untuk bola sepak kami dah sertai, mungkin lepas ini hoki pula. Apa pun buat masa ini kami ingin fokus bantu skuad muda negara yang akan beraksi di India pada kejohanan Piala Dunia Remaja bulan depan, ” katanya ketika ditemui pada majlis penyerahan tajaan dari Felda kepada Konfederasi Hoki Malaysia (MHC) di Kuala Lumpur, kelmarin.
Jelasnya, pasukan muda hoki negara merupakan aset utama bagi negara mengembalikan maruah sukan hoki Malaysia di mata dunia.
“ Kami yakin barisan muda negara di bawah kendalian Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah mampu mempamerkan mutu permainan yang baik di sana, " katanya.
Felda United coach Irfan Bakti quits with one game left in MSL season
Irfan Bakti quit after Felda United drew 3-3 with Sarawak in the MSL on Saturday.
Coach Irfan Bakti has dropped a bombshell by quitting Felda United, despite an impressive Malaysia Super League (MSL) campaign where they pushed champions Johor Darul Ta'zim for much of the season.
Irfan announced his retirement right after Saturday night's 3-3 draw against Sarawak, citing a failure to win a trophy this season. Even so, Felda are guaranteed to finish second in the MSL.
"I wanted to win a trophy this year, and I failed in that mission. This decision was solely mine, which I announced to the team after the Sarawak game," Irfan told ESPN FC.
"That was my final game in Jengka, and I wish the team all the best. We have done well this season."
Irfan leaves Felda on the back of a stellar season which saw the Fighters play some entertaining football where they almost matched JDT, despite a much smaller budget.
A 3-2 loss to the Southern Tigers on Aug. 24 put paid to Felda's title aspirations, but their team spirit and attack-minded play earned universal praise.
Felda's feisty feat under Irfan also earned them an AFC Cup spot for the 2017 season, alongside JDT.
The 65-year-old led Felda to MSL promotion after a runners-up finish in the Premier League after taking over in 2014. That same year, he led the club side to the Malaysia Cup semifinals, and a Malaysia FA Cup final. They lost 2-1 loss to Pahang in the 2014 FA Cup final.
This year, Felda crashed out of the FA Cup in the third round before they were ousted 2-1 on aggregate by T-Team in the last eight of the Malaysia Cup.
Irfan acknowledged that his exit will leave a void in the Fighters' camp.
He added: "We were together for a long-time, and I am sad to leave this group of players. But as coach, I have brought them something and I hope they will continue with the good work."
Irfan is expected to vacate his post with immediate effect, which leaves Felda without a head coach for the final league game, away to Kedah on Oct. 21.
The former national player plans to take a break for now, but says he has not lost the hunger for top flight management.
"It is my bread and butter, and I am still eager to prove myself," Irfan said. "But for now, I just plan to spend time with my family."
Nicolas Anil is a former Malay Mail and Goal.com Malaysia editor/writer who appears on BFM Radio as a football analyst. Twitter: @nicolas_anil