Cheng Hoe can continue coaching Kedah until FA Cup is over - FAM

The FAM in a statement today said a meeting would be held with the Kedah FA to discuss the status of Cheng Hoe who was appointed as the assistant coach to National head coach Mario Gomez, although Cheng Hoe had submitted his resignation to the Kedah FA last Saturday.

Cheng Hoe had said he was still waiting for a reply from the Kedah FA.

Kedah are scheduled to face PKNP FC in a FA Cup quarterfinal return leg at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh on April 21.

Meanwhile, the Kedah FA have requested Cheng Hoe to submit the letter of offer (assistant National coach) from the FAM before the FA can make a decision.

KFA president Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah in a statement today said the association had received Cheng Hoe's resignation letter on April 1.

"The KFA council however, want Cheng Hoe to submit the offer letter from the FAM before a decision is made. We will not make a decision until we receive the official offer from the FAM," he said.

Meanwhile, FAM president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said the decision to appoint Cheng Hoe as the assistant National coach was not to weaken the Kedah state team as claimed by some.

"Mario himself had said he was keen to appoint Cheng Hoe because he felt Cheng Hoe was the right candidate for the job. However, it is up to Cheng Hoe to decide.

"It is therefore, not an attempt to weaken the Kedah side," he said in the FAM official Facebook.

Tunku Ismail said apart from Cheng Hoe, Gomez had also chosen Raul Longhi who is the JDT assistant coach and goalkeeper coach Azmin Azram to be in his team management list.