Foul!

...and you'll get a treat from Kelantan coach Bojan Hodak ( pic ). And before the FA of Malaysia (FAM) gets excited and tries to slap Hodak with an Article 88, fret not as he is NOT complaining. As far as Hodak is concerned, being good comes with a price as the Red Warriors are playing in numerous tournaments (Super League, FA Cup and AFC Cup) at one go. Unlike his counterpart in Selangor Irfan Bakti, Hodak insists he is treating all competitions with equal importance. Read the full article in Mailsport . Irfan, meanwhile, has set his sights on the FA Cup. Having wounded the Darul Takzim FC, better known as the Southern Tigers, in the first leg of the FA Cup quarterfinals, Irfan is expecting the southern team to bounce back and he would love the challenge. Read Irfan's take here . HD says: Very difficult to talk these days.

And it was done very quickly indeed. Selangor coach Irfan Bakti's words during the Malaysian Football Monthly, hosted by Ross Yusoff, certainly caught Astro Arena's Dez Corkhill, professional player Stanley Samuel and I by surprise. "Well at the moment we have another two foriegners with us and I heard there is a clause on this factor that we can register a new player to replace Ramez and at this moment we have Peter Chrappan from Slovakia and I hope tomorrow (today) morning we will receive the clearance from FAM and he will be able to play tomorrow (today)," said Irfan. Listen to the conversation here . What clause I wonder? That aside, can someone explain the April transfer window? Apparently players who are serving contracts but decide to mutually terminate the contracts with their employees are not allowed to play for another team when the window opens. Instead, it is strictly for players who do not have any on-going contracts with any M-League teams. ...

"Saya sudah menemui ramuan terbaik untuk pasukan (bagi menghadapi musim baru Liga Super), namun masih terdapat beberapa kelemahan yang perlu saya perbaiki terutamanya di bahagian tengah." Itu kata-kata jurulatih pasukan Selangor Irfan Bakti seperti dilaporkan Bernama semalam. "Saya akan lihat perkembangan pemain disebabkan kita sudah masuk fasa akhir persediaan bagi menghadapi Liga Super musim depan sebelum menyenarai pemain. Saya yakin kita akan lihat kualiti dan karakter pemain yang sebenar disebabkan mereka perlu bersaing sesama sendiri untuk memastikan mereka terpilih." Ini pula pendapat jurulatih Negeri Sembilan Divaldo Alves Pasukan-pasukan kini bersiap sedia untuk musim baru Liga M. Siapakah pasukan pilihan musim depan? Darul Takzim FC yang dibarisi pemain-pemain 'bintang', Selangor, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan atau pun Perak? Mampukah ATM beri saingan? Apa pendapat anda? HD kata: Sudah pasti tahun depan musim yang menarik.

It hasn't exactly been a rosy start for the Red Giants. From 11 matches, the Klang Valley team have only won four. It's quite demoralising for a team that is supposedly referred to as the big boys of Malaysian football. They lack the fangs upfront. Good build up, many chances but fail to convert it into goals - something Irfan acknowledges. Some say Irfan was blessed with good players during his time in Terengganu and that made his job easier last season. This season, his real coaching capabilities are being tested and he hasn't scored big time yet. But there are others who said that Irfan cannot be blamed - as just like K.Devan last season - Selangor lack a quality striker. Bosko Balaban ? He is getting there...hopefully...I think. For now it is back to the basics for Irfan and Co. But how long will that last? And is Irfan's job at stake? HD says: Would like to see Selangor find their groove soon.

...but not many are willing to admit it. The FA of Malaysia (FAM) have extended the dateline for the registration of foreign players to Feb 13 and most teams have decided to ditch their imports in search of fresh talents. So it is safe to presume they all screwed up in the selection of players in the beginning and are lucky to be given a second chance. Selangor coach Irfan Bakti indirectly agreed to the notion. After all Selangor too made a big boo-boo by signing up an injured player only to ditch him weeks later. Read all about Breathing easier with second chance in today's Mailsport. HD says: Lain kali plan dulu. Jangan main beli.

That's going to piss many hardcore fans off I assure you. Thankfully my subject today is about Selangor and not Kelantan. I really hope Selangor's new coach Irfan Bakti ( pic ) will continue to weave his "magic" as he did with Terengganu. Irfan is out to attack and attract, as published by NST . However, a chat with several seasoned coaches reveals Irfan is going to have a really tough time in Selangor - mostly based on their personal experiences. Why? 1. He had good players who connected well with each other in Terengganu. It's not the same with Selangor as many of the seasoned players have been dropped and many new faces roped in including the two new foreigners - Lebanon defender Ramez Dayoub and Congo striker Lelo Mbele. Do they have enough time to gel? Remember Tony Cottee? 2. The politics in FA of Selangor. It can get very very messy unless Irfan puts his foot down. But that would also mean officials stabbing his back - based on the personal experience of se...

First they protested against the ticket price of the Malaysia Cup final. Now, they want the Terengganu FA president Che Mat Jusoh ( pic ) to vacate the hot seat. Fans of the Turtles are fuming with anger after coach Irfan Bakti left Terengganu for Selangor. They blame Irfan's departure on Che Mat as reported in today's NST . Was Irfan really unhappy with Terengganu FA? Or was it a case where Selangor were offering bigger bucks? After all, players and coaches leaving are part and parcel of football. Who would have thought Azraai Khor Abdullah's short stint with Negri Sembilan would pay off handsomely? I've dealt with Che Mat in the past and found him to be a quick laid back and approachable person. However, that is just a personal opinion. But if there is indeed a management crisis, then it will be interesting to unearth what it is all about..... HD says: I'm going to enjoy my kerepok lekor cecah sos cili Kampung Koh while watching this drama.

Irfan Bakti ( pic ) has never won the Malaysia Cup title as a coach. And he believes this is his best opportunity to do so through Terengganu. But Irfan is not getting carried away as he still respects the might of Selangor - despite the Red Giants having shown an unimpressive record in the number of shots at goals. Ask former Merah Kuning defender K.Gunalan and he will be able to give you the exact figures. Read of Irfan's goal and the "satisfied" feeling he felt after defeating Kelantan in Kota Bharu in the quarterfinals match in today's Mailsport . T-Team, meanwhile, are eager to brush aside Negri Sembilan. Tonight's Malaysia Cup semifinal (1st leg) fixtures: Selangor v Terengganu (Shah Alam Stadium, 8.45pm) T-Team v Negri Sembilan (Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, 8.45pm) HD says: An all Terengganu final?