PETALING JAYA: Selangor fans were divided following Nidzam Jamil’s surprise decision to quit as the head coach.
Nidzam’s decision came after the Red Giants’ recent 3-0 defeat to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the Super League at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Sunday, which saw him being trolled on social media.
Bag packed: Nidzam Jamil has just managed Selangor over 13 Super League matches this season.
He has just managed the team over 13 Super League matches this season but the expectation has been high to deliver.
The 44-year-old coach took over from Tan Cheng Hoe earlier this year after the latter left the Red Giants for Thailand to coach the Police Tero.
Nidzam did well to keep Selangor in second spot in the Super League standings and was the man behind their superb 2-1 win over South Korean side Jeonbuk Motor in the Asian Champions League 2 (ACL2) match recently.
His decision was announced by Selangor on their social media account.
One of the club’s fans, Syuaib Nasir, expressed shock over the sudden departure of Nidzam.
“Thank you coach. The only coach who managed to beat a Korean club side this year (referring to their win against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors),” said Syuaib.
“It is not easy setting up a ladder to the top of the sky.
“No. 2 in the Super League, runners-up in the FA cup, top of the table AFC Champions League 2.’’
Said another fan Mohd Huzairi Mohamed: “Nidzam should at least hold the coach’s job for two years or more before he can see things change.”
However, there were also those who felt changes were inevitable at the professional club level.
“Coach Nidzam has done the best but to be in an elite place, you have to make changes sometimes,” said another supporter, Nadzmin Amin.
“Even JDT, who have been successful many times, had also changed coaches just to continue the achievements and sustainability of the team.’’
Perhaps Selangor can start looking at foreign coaches to take the team to greater heights if their budget permits.
Among the names the Selangor supporters have thrown up are South Korean Park Hang-seo and Croatian Tomislav Steinbruckner.
Sang-heo coached Vietnam to win the AFF title in 2018 while Steinbruckner quit as Terengganu coach last month.
Selangor thanked Nidzam for his contributions.
“Under his guidance as head coach, Selangor are currently second in the league, emerged as runners-up in the FA Cup and also sit top of Group H in AFC Champions League 2,” said the club in a statement.
“Abdi Hassan will take charge of the first team as interim head coach while the club finalise the recruitment of a new head coach.”
