JDT mulls terminating contract of import player

Johor Football Association (PBNJ) president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim is thinking of terminating the contract of an import player and replace him with a new player who is expected to arrive later this month.

Without mentioning the name of the Johor Darul import Ta'zim (JDT) player, Tunku Ismail said he would hold a meeting with head coach Bojan Hodak to discuss the matter.

"It is important to give full freedom and confidence to the head coach. The president cannot be a coach, unlike some states, where their presidents want to be the coach as well as the technical director.

"Here, it is not so," said Tunku Ismail when intoroducing JDT's new player, Patricio Rodriguez of Argentina, at Tan Sri Hassan Yunus Stadium here today.

Tunku Ismail hopes that Hodak can overcome the problems experienced JDT when they are finishing the game with a good twist.

"JDT's biggest problem is not in midfield position or defence. It is more towards finishing. I think it should be corrected and we do not want to wait until it gets worse," he said.

Regarding the new player who will replace one of the imports, Tunku Ismail said he would arrive here on March 26 or 27, before joining the team in training ahead of its match against the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) on April 4.

On Rodriguez, 24, Tunku Ismail said he had been following the player's development since the beginning of 2013, however, he was not able to secure his services due to financial constraints faced by JDT.

"It is such a great pleasure for me to have Rodriguez, as we are always looking for quality players who can contribute something to be proud of."

Meanwhile, Rodriguez, who began his career with Argentine club Independiente from 2008 to 2012 before joining Santos for a transfer fee of 1.6 million Euros (RM6.48 million), hopes to help JDT win the Super League trophy this season.

"I will try my best to help JDT winning the Super League title," said the player who has been loaned from Santos until November.