Perlis can perform well in the Premier League

Perlis Football Association (PFA) President Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim believes Perlis can perform well if players are free from the interference of bookies.

"Perlis can be an excellent team if the game is clean and free from the influence of bookies," he told reporters when commenting on the preparations of the Perlis team for the new season that starts next week.

Shahidan who is the former Perlis Menteri Besar said the presence or interference of bookies in football is a serious crime and that Perlis were still reeling from last season's bribery scandal that rocked the team that used to be known as the Northern Lions.

"Players must not remain silent when approached by bookies but inform me quickly. Tell me how much the bookie is willing to offer so that I can offer them more than the bookie. But the player must be rested for a while," he said adding that such an act can help trap the bookies.

Shahidan said to wipe out the menace of bookies, there must be cooperation from the players because Perlis' campaign was floored by the bribery scandal.

He hoped players would give their best to lift the team out of its recent gloom and do well in the Premier League.

"Although we are playing in the Premier League, we are paying players the same salary as players in the Super League. Thus, the players must produce quality that will be on par with the Super League," he said.

He added that Perlis had also signed two import players from Ghana, namely Antwi Dennis Agyare and Okine Emmanuel Ayaah to beef up the squad.

The others in the squad are:

Mohd Zahid Mohamed, Suvinart Shian, Syed Amir Syaffiq Syed Zainal Abidin, Hadi Syahmi Hamzah, Abdul Aliff Alias, Muhammad Atif Hanif, Muhd Nasri Ahmad Thauhid, Hizbullah Awang, Ahmad Faizal Sumar, Mohamad Afizuddin Ali, Mohd Afiq Akmal Zunaidi, Mohd Hanif Mohd Noor, Romdhizat Jamian, Syed Mohd Ghafar Syed Amir, Mohd Nurfirdaus Roswanan, Md Badrul Hisani Abd Rahman, Muhammad Hardi Ahmad, Farouk Hashim, Mohd Azrul Hafiz Mohd Amran, Ahmad Amizul Md Akhir, Muhd Shahruddin Ismail, Mohd Ailim Fahmi Kamaruddin.