The preparations and build-up for PKNS FC continues with the 2017 season recommencing on the first day of July. During the second transfer window that closed shut last week, E. Elavarasan swapped out three of the four foreigners on the roster with Lucas Espindola, Gonzalo Soto and Matias Hadwa all being shown the exit.
In their stead, Elavarasan has brought in Fabio Ferreira, Abdou Jammeh and Park Kwang-il respectively. Speaking to Goal before the start of PKNS' friendly match against PDRM on Saturday night, the head coach is pleased with the changes made as he feels that it would help supplement a department that the team has lacked since the start of the season.
"[The changes made is] What I think suitable to go along with the strike force that we have. That's the changes that we made because we have Patrick [Ronaldinho Wleh], Safee [Sali] and Bobby [Gonzales]."
"The right midfield Fabio, who can also play on the left and right. I have another Korean who can play across midfield. So I got the option whether I need him to be on the flanks or to pack the midfield," explained Elavarasan.
Sitting in ninth spot with 11 points in the Super League, PKNS will be hoping to make grounds on the top half of the table and finish as high as they can in league. With participation in the Malaysia Cup also secured, Elavarasan will be pushing his boys to ensure that they can improve on their quarterfinal outing last year.
Securing the signing of Portuguese winger Ferreira is one that has made Elavarasan excited. When asked which of the new players that the fans should look out for, Elavarasan was quick to point to the 28-year-old former Central Coast Mariners player.
"I think it's Fabio because he comes with a good background. He comes from the A-League with one of the top clubs there. Even though they wanted to re-sign him, he wanted to get expose himself in other parts of Asia, so he'll try very hard to prove he's a good buy," said Elavarasan.
There's also more joy and confidence in the team what with Nazrin Syamsul earning his first ever national call-up in the recent Malaysia outing in the Asian Cup qualifiers. Even though the midfielder did not make the match day squad, the experience gained from a week-long training camp with established players is expected to help push him on.
"I think it'll [the call-up] give him [Nazrin] more confidence. Basically it'll inspire him to play better so that he'll get more opportunities. For me, it's the first step for any player to look further in their football career," added Elavarasan.
