Sarawak Football Association (FAS) is taking massive heat from fans and local media as rumours of disillusioned players start to surface even more in local papers.
A few days ago, a local paper suggested that Robert might be tempted to leave after he realized many of his ace players are now most probably going somewhere although the Dutchman did say that he is staying for another season with Sarawak so far.
Ronny Harun has also hinted in local media that he would be considering to leave shall Sarawak fail to table a favorable offer, while Sarawak’s most loved midfielder, Joseph Kalang remained silent over news that he will be tempted by lucrative contracts from other teams.
Today, the heat just got ‘hotter’ with Robert Alberts himself quoted as saying that FAS was advised by him in ways to retain Sarawak’s star players, but no effort was taken so far to do just that.
The head coach said that Sarawak should not be a ‘selling team’, and should retain players they have heavily invested in by providing these players with running contracts instead of a one year contract.
Citing that Malaysia has a small pool of footballers, Robert commented that while FAS is doing well, they must look further to avoid them for losing quality players over contract uncertainty.
He added that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) rules that players can start talking to other teams three months before their contract ends, and this is a window for other teams to get Sarawak players for free when their contract ends.
Sarawak is expected to lose more than half of their first team players as big spending teams are said to have offered these players lucrative contracts with the new 2015 season just a few months away.
Sarawak has already lost top local striker S Chanturu to JDT for next season.
Source: New Sarawak Tribune
