Alam Shah joins Malaysian
Polis
Banned Singapore striker signs one-year deal with Selangor
club
Straits Times, The
(Singapore)
Sports
December 27, 2007
Author: Wang Meng Meng
AFTER his red mist in the Singapore Cup final, Noh Alam Shah will
start a new life across the Causeway in the new year.
The Tampines Rovers striker, banned one year by the Football
Association of Singapore for attacking Singapore Armed Forces
defender Daniel Bennett in the Singapore Cup final, has signed for
Malaysian Super League team Polis Di-Raja Malaysia (PDRM).
This was confirmed yesterday by PDRM assistant manager Mohd Gifari,
who revealed that Alam Shah signed a one-year deal.
He said: 'We secured Alam Shah's signature late last week and he
will join the squad on Jan 1.
'To us, he's the best striker in the Asean region and one of the
best in Asia.
'He is a quality player and I'm confident he will be a great
signing for us.'
Coach K. Thayanathan added: 'Alam Shah is well-known in Malaysia.
He is one player I would love to have in my side.
'I can't wait to see him in action for PDRM.'
Alam Shah, who could not be reached for comment, was also courted
by Indonesian first division club Pelita Jaya, coached by former
Singapore captain Fandi Ahmad.
Gifari declined to reveal how much the marksman is being
paid.
Alam Shah will not be the only Singaporean in the Selangor-based
team.
He will be re-united with former national team colleague Ahmad
Latiff, who had been released by Woodlands Wellington at the end of
the season.
Latiff has already made a good start to his career across the
Causeway, netting against Penang and Sarawak.
'The club is very happy with Latiff's performances,' Gifari
noted.
'He came and fitted into the team immediately and has made an
impact.'
Nicknamed 'The Cops', PDRM are based in the MPS Stadium in
Selangor.
They won promotion to the Super League after marching to the
second-tier Malaysian Premier League title last season.
PDRM have a mixed start to their Super League campaign, lying sixth
with six points in the 13-team table after winning two and losing
two of their opening games.
Leaders Selangor are on 10 points.
PDRM's other foreign players are from Kenya - midfielder Hilary
Echesa and striker John Mawalma Barasa.
A classic centre-forward known for his aerial power and
never-say-die attitude, Alam Shah was named Most Valuable Player
when the Lions won this year's Asean Football Championship.
He also top-scored in the tournament with 10 goals, including a
national record seven-goal haul in the 11-0 thrashing of
Laos.
He was also the S-League's Player of the Year in 2005.
But the 27-year-old also has a chequered disciplinary record,
having been sent off nine times in 10 S-League seasons.
In 2001, he was also red-carded for his part in a mass brawl in a
World Cup qualifier against Bahrain, when the Lions lost 1-2.
He, Dalis Supait and Bahraini Abdulla Barzooki were each banned six
matches and fined $4,800.
The last Lion to feature in the Malaysian Premier League was former
national skipper Aide Iskandar, who spent a season with Johor FA in
2005.
[email protected]
Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited