Kelantan part company with Moustapha
Malaysia Cup Group A leaders Kelantan parted ways with their top striker Mouhamadou Moustapha on Sunday.
The Senegalese, who won the Premier League Golden Boot award in May, insisted that it was him, and not the Kelantan FA, who chose to terminate the contract.
Moustapha felt hurt after being asked by the team management to take a rest and not travel with the team for the match against Selangor in Shah Alam tonight.
The Kelantan FA were disappointed with the striker’s contribution in the last three matches and criticised him openly after the 0-1 defeat by Terengganu last Saturday.
But the 24-year-old Moustapha took the criticism harshly and challenged the FA to end his contract if they were not satisfied with his performance.
“I am a professional player. If my employers feel that I am no longer needed, then it is good for them to release me immediately instead of letting me rot on the sidelines,” said Moustapha from Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“I played 24 Premier League, two FA Cup and seven Malaysia Cup matches for Kelantan this season. In the 33 matches, I scored 32 goals. The statistics speak clearly for me and I felt it was unnecessary to defend myself further after the match against Terengganu.”
Kelantan FA deputy president Ahmad Jazlan Yaakob was reported to have stated that Moustapha had dished out insipid performances in the last three matches and they would accept the full consequences of the decision to cut loose the Nigerian from the team.
But the striker countered that the Kelantan coach, Frenchman Regis Laguesse, did not complain about his contributions and had included him for the trip to Shah Alam.
“The players trusted me, the trainers trusted me but several members of the team management were unhappy with me. I have no grouses with the squad and will be supporting them from the stands in Shah Alam tomorrow (today),” he said.
“I had wanted to win the Malaysia Cup with Kelantan but my dream will not come true. I have already received an offer from a Dubai-based club. But I prefer to check out several teams in Europe and would be leaving Malaysia this week.”
Kelantan hold a one-point lead in Group A over three teams – Terengganu, Negri Sembilan and Selangor.
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