Latest news with #KTRW
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Negri thrash 10-man Police, KTRW stun KL City
KUALA LUMPUR: Negri Sembilan crushed 10-man Police 5-0, while KL City suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to Kelantan The Real Warriors (KTRW) in the FA Cup round of 16 first leg matches on Monday. At the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi, Jovan Motika and Joseph Esso bagged a brace each as Negri effectively sealed the contest. Motika, a former KL City midfielder, opened the scoring in the third minute before Police's night took a disastrous turn when Noel Agbre was sent off in the ninth minute for fouling Esso outside the box. Motika doubled the lead in the 40th minute, timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, before Esso made it 3-0 just before the break. Police goalkeeper Ifwat Akmal Chek Kassim endured a torrid first half and was replaced by Fahmi Ikhwan Azmi at the interval. Fahmi managed to produce a couple of saves but could not prevent further damage as substitute Mio Tsuneyasu struck in the 75th minute. Four minutes later, Esso completed his brace to wrap up Negri's emphatic victory, leaving Police with a mountain to climb in the return leg. In Kota Bahru, KL City's hopes of returning to the FA Cup final took a severe dent as they fell 3-1 to KTRW. Nigerian striker Ifedayo Omosuyi gave the hosts a dream start with a fourth-minute opener and doubled his tally in the 14th minute to put KTRW firmly in control. Sean Selvaraj made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute before KL City pulled one back through Syamer Kutty Abba in the 86th. The City Boys were handed a lifeline when Ryan Lambert was fouled by Wan Amirul Afiq Wan Rahman inside the box in stoppage time, with VAR awarding a penalty to the visitors. However, Safawi Rasid failed to convert from the spot.
The Sun
10-08-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Kuching City Crush KTRW 4-0 as PDRM and DPMM Draw 2-2
KUCHING City FC delivered a commanding performance with a 4-0 victory over Kelantan The Real Warriors (KTRW) in the Super League at the State Stadium in Kuching. Cameroonian striker Ronald Ngah Wanja was the standout performer, netting twice in the sixth and 71st minutes. Timor Leste's Joao Pedro added to the tally with a 17th-minute strike, while Muhammad Ramadhan Saifullah Usman sealed the win in stoppage time. In another match, PDRM FC staged a dramatic comeback to hold Brunei's DPMM FC to a 2-2 draw at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium. DPMM raced to an early lead with goals from Muhammad Ramadhan Sananta and Miguel Oliveira in the third and sixth minutes. PDRM's South Korean import Park Tae-su rescued his side with a quickfire double in the 68th and 72nd minutes to salvage a point. – Bernama
New Straits Times
02-08-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
FIFA ban on Kelantan club over soon?
KUALA LUMPUR: Kelantan The Real Warriors (KTRW) president Tan Sri Anuar Musa has claimed that the club are close to getting the Fifa transfer ban on them lifted. But he added that the process is far more complex than outsiders may realise. Anuar said today that eight of the nine FIFA cases (salaries not paid to players) against KTRW — inherited from their previous team, Kelantan Darul Naim FC — have been settled. "We are now waiting for Fifa to confirm it in their system. Usually, Fifa takes about five working days to update it." Anuar's comments come amid allegations by former Kelantan striker Mohamad Ghaddar, who is now a player agent. Ghaddar has hit out at Anuar and the club's CEO, Datuk Irwan Rizal Ali Napiah, following a failed transfer deal involving Syrian defender Moaiad Alkhouli. Ghaddar claimed he personally financed Alkhouli's travel to Malaysia, only for the club to go silent after the player passed his medical. Ghaddar's claims have reignited questions over Kelantan's finances and also the Malaysian Football League's decision to still allow them to compete in the 2025-2026 Super League. However, Anuar insists that KTRW are doing everything by the book. "When a sanction is imposed, the release must go through a rather long process. Clubs must be careful and not treat this lightly," he said. "All these aspects must be properly managed. The process of rescuing the club is not as simple as some people may think but we are committed to doing it. "We must also ensure that the International Transfer Certificate for each player is properly completed before registration can happen," he said. Despite Anuar's reassurances, KTRW's name remains on Fifa's player registration ban list. Malaysia currently has 18 complaints at FIFA, more than any other Asian nations, with Kelantan responsible for eight of them. KTRW have been barred from registering new players and can only retain players from last season, including those from their President's Cup squad.
New Straits Times
01-08-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Ghaddar slams Kelantan club over failed Syrian transfer
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Lebanese international Mohamad Ghaddar has accused Kelantan The Real Warriors (KTRW) of dishonesty over a failed transfer involving Syrian defender Moaiad Alkhouli. In a series of Instagram posts, Ghaddar claimed he paid for Alkhouli's travel to Malaysia — only for club president Tan Sri Anuar Musa and CEO Datuk Irwan Rizal Ali Napiah to go silent after the player passed his medical. "This is the worst club I have ever dealt with. Let FIFA decide," Ghaddar wrote, sharing what appeared to be a copy of the offer letter. Ghaddar, who had four stints with Kelantan and was once a fan favourite at Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Felda United, is not a FIFA-registered agent — a key detail confirmed by Malaysian Football League (MFL) acting CEO Shazli Shaik. That status complicates matters. Under FIFA regulations, unlicensed intermediaries face potential sanctions, including fines or bans, particularly under Article 6 of the body's rules on working with intermediaries. While players may file complaints directly to FIFA, agents without proper accreditation face more limited recourse. But the bigger issue now centres on KTRW's continued participation in the Super League, despite financial woes, legal troubles, and a FIFA-imposed transfer ban. "KTRW, previously known as Kelantan Darul Naim FC, were granted a national licence as they fulfilled last season's licensing cycle. But they've had arrears from January to March and are still under a FIFA transfer ban due to unresolved foreign player claims," said Shazli. The club are only allowed to register players from last season, including those from their President's Cup squad, and cannot sign new players until the ban is lifted. Still, Shazli insists the MFL is taking a firm stance. "We've asked KTRW to either clear their debts or provide proof of negotiations and agreed payment plans. There's a bi-monthly monitoring cycle. If they don't comply, the case is referred to the First Instance Body (FIB) for disciplinary action," he said. "We've removed Kedah, Perak, and Sri Pahang from the league in the past. So how can anyone claim we're not strict? KTRW are under tight observation. If there's no progress, we'll consider appropriate action, including proceeding with just 12 teams." He added that the next licensing document deadline is in October, with the latest submission having been in July. FIB meetings are scheduled before the new league campaign kicks off. Timesport has been tracking KTRW's ongoing issues, including unpaid salaries, questionable licensing approvals, and humiliating repayment offers to former players and coaches — such as RM200 monthly instalments and partial settlements. These cases, described by critics as exploitative, have raised serious concerns over the integrity of the MFL's licensing framework. While the MFL maintain that KTRW fulfilled the requirements for last season, observers argue that continued leniency for financially unstable clubs could damage the league's credibility. Kelantan's woes are also reflected on FIFA's official registration ban list, where Malaysia currently has 18 entries — the highest being Kelantan FC, with eight separate bans. They are followed by Perlis FA and Kedah Darul Aman FC (two each), while Perak, Kelantan FA, PT Athletic FC, Gombak FC, and Kelantan Darul Naim also feature. On Friday, Anuar appeared to respond to the furore on Facebook, urging stakeholders to avoid trial by social media. "The most important thing is discipline in management. Always follow the rules and respect the law. Not everything needs to be discussed online, especially issues involving regulations or personal matters," he wrote. "In professional football, there are governing bodies — the AFL (Amateur Football League), MFL, FAM (FA of Malaysia), and FIFA. Any uncertainty should be referred to the appropriate authorities. "Everyone involved — management, players, agents — must act wisely. Use discretion, especially when protecting someone's dignity." Anuar also reminded all parties that while clubs are privately owned, football ultimately belongs to the fans. "Find balance — for the greater good," he said.
