KUALA LUMPUR – Melaka FC president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad has voiced frustration with head coach K. Devan and his players over their disappointing start to the season, saying the team has failed to meet expectations despite heavy investment.
Speaking to Scoop, Nur Azmi criticised the quality and impact of the club’s foreign players after four Super League matches, questioning their contribution and fitness levels.
“Although I am the owner of the club, I am not involved in player selection — my role is to provide the funding for the team to compete in the league. Matters related to player recruitment and squad management are entirely the head coach’s responsibility,” he said when contacted.
“From what I’ve seen, the performance of the foreign players has been far from satisfactory. Some played only once and got injured, while others have featured in just two out of four matches.
“This is not a good situation for the team because foreign players are supposed to offer more quality than the locals,” he added.
Melaka FC are still chasing their first win of the season after six matches in all competitions — three in the Super League and three in the FA Cup — recording three draws and three defeats.
Nur Azmi admitted that his target for the club to finish fifth or sixth this season now looks increasingly out of reach.
“I’m not expecting third or fourth because I know we cannot compete with JDT (Johor Darul Ta’zim), Selangor FC or Terengganu FC. That’s the KPI (key performance indicator) I set.
“Even if the team loses, I still pay salaries twice a month, and if we draw, I still pay bonuses,” he said.
The club president stressed that he has fulfilled his responsibilities as owner, having poured in significant funds and approved the signings requested by the coaching staff, including foreign players.
“As the owner, I’ve done everything within my means. I’ve provided the budget, approved the players the coach wanted — including foreign signings — and ensured the team has what it needs to compete,” he said.
“So when results don’t come, it clearly shows there’s a problem somewhere. That’s why I won’t hesitate to send the foreign players home if they don’t perform. I invest in this team because I want results, not excuses,” he told Scoop. — September 26, 2025