KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor FC head coach Tan Cheng Hoe is proud of the stellar performances of his former centre-back Yazan Al-Arab, who is representing Jordan at the ongoing Asian Cup.
Despite Yazan parting ways with Selangor FC on strained terms, Cheng Hoe’s admiration for his accomplishments remains unwavering.
The 28-year-old, who currently plays for Qatari club Muaither SC, may be seen as a villain in Malaysian football, but he has been pulling the strings for Jordan, leading his nation to the final of the continent’s top football tournament with his defensive prowess.
The defender received a lifetime ban from the Football Association of Malaysia for an incident in the Malaysia Cup quarter-final second leg against Terengganu in September last year, when Yazan was found guilty of assaulting match referee Hasrol Amir.
Yazan’s contract with Selangor FC was also terminated immediately after the incident.
Speaking to Scoop, Cheng Hoe said that he was amazed by Yazan’s change in attitude and wished him the best for the Asian Cup.
“I have no hatred towards Yazan. He was such an influential player for our team last season and played a big role in our team’s decent finish in the Malaysia Super League and also our qualification for the AFC Asian Champions League 2.
“Without his contribution to the team, we would not have finished as well (as we did) last season, as he really played well for us in all the games as the lead centre back.
“I can’t hate him just because of one bad incident. For me, I still see him as a part of our Selangor family. I’m proud of his growth, and I love the way he bounced back after the incident by overcoming all the criticisms.
“People make mistakes and learn from them, and I’m happy to see him excel and grow into a much stronger player, as evidenced in his strong performances in the Asian Cup. I wish the best for him and would love to see him keep prevailing,” said Cheng Hoe.
Yazan officially signed with Selangor FC in 2021 alongside national teammate Baha’ Abdel-Rahman for the 2021/2022 season.
He made a total of 35 appearances and scored three goals for the club.
Selangor FC finished second in the Super League with 61 points that season, and qualified for the next season’s AFC Asian Champions League 2 group stage.
This marked the Red Giants’ return to continental competition after their 2016 AFC Cup outing, in which they failed to advance beyond the group stage. – February 7, 2024