Karathu can't believe what's happening to Perak
From glory to sorry days: Perak players celebrating with then coach Karl Weigang after they won the Malaysia Cup in 2000. Inset: Datuk M. Karathu, an iconic figure in Perak football, expressed his dismay over the club's decline.
PETALING JAYA: Perak's exit from the M-League next season is a big shame.
Veteran coach Datuk M. Karathu, an iconic figure in Perak football, expressed his dismay over the club's decline.
Karathu said it was shocking to see such a proud team, an eight-time Malaysia Cup champion, brought to the brink of collapse.
'Perak is a name respected across Malaysian football. This should not be happening,' he said.
Yesterday, Perak dropped a bombshell when they announced that they are out of next year's Super League.
Owners XOX have officially pulled out for the first time in a century.
Perak football, founded in 1921 (104 years ago), had played in every league until now. They have won the Malaysia Cup eight times.
Karathu, 82, who coached Perak on four occasions, blamed the management's inexperience and a lack of football expertise.
'I got the news through WhatsApp groups,' he said.
'I saw the management's statement - they claimed to have spent RM40 million but couldn't sustain the team. I believe inexperience played a big part.
'There were too many coaches compared to players. I saw a photo - it looked like there were two players for every coach!
'That's not how you run a club, especially when facing financial difficulties.'
Club chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi said the owners XOX Bhd had officially withdrawn from next season's Super League, bringing the state team's journey to a sad closure.
'We started with big dreams – to build something sustainable, something Perakians could be proud of. We believed that with your support, we could create a club that weren't just competitive, but rooted in community and passion,' said Azmi in a statement.
'We walked into a club burdened by nearly RM8mil in unpaid wages from the past. We cleared that, and we gave everything we had – time, belief, and nearly RM40mil over three years.
'But the reality is that the support we needed didn't grow the way we hoped. Support from Perak's public and private sectors never came in and the expected growth in Perak's subscriber base fell very short of expectations.
'The internal funds have now dried up, and we just can't keep going.
'Whatever funds remain - from merchandise, league dues, and our final budget – will go towards settling what we owe. It will not be enough, but it's all we have left.'
Azim said the team will continue to operate by selling their remaining merchandise, to raise funds.
Azim said the club were for sale and has asked any conglomerates or businesses to come forward and state their interest.
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