KUALA LUMPUR – Newly appointed Polis Diraja Malaysia FC (PDRM FC) head coach P. Maniam aims to break into the top five positions of the Malaysia Super League despite the club management’s target of maintaining consistent performance from last season.
In their sixth appearance in the top-tier Malaysian football league, PDRM FC finished eighth with 37 points. They narrowly missed out on the 2024/25 Asean Club Championship group stage (AFF Shopee Cup) by just one point – trailing behind Kuala Lumpur City FC, which finished seventh with 38 points.
Speaking to Scoop, Maniam, who recently replaced Datuk Yunus Alif as head coach, expressed his belief that his team can achieve this goal through his 3-5-2 system.
“This club has a bright future, and I appreciate the emphasis the club places on developing young players to excel in their game.
“Throughout my coaching career, I’ve successfully developed many young talents into top players wherever I’ve been, and I aim to continue this legacy at PDRM FC.
“As a coach, I have my target of finishing in the top five. I’ve just come on board and have already started introducing myself to the players.
“Now, it’s my job to ensure that my players share the same vision as me.
“Implementing the 3-5-2 system has always been my identity, and I’ve developed several variations of it that the players are adapting to well during training.
“Reaching the top five will be a tough mission, especially with teams like Sri Pahang FC boasting several talented players.
“But with hard work and dedication, anything is possible,” said Maniam when contacted.
Throughout his 19-year coaching career, Maniam has coached various age levels of Selangor FC, including the under-19, under-21, and senior team.
The 55-year-old has also coached Petaling Jaya City in the Super League until its disbandment in 2022, and Harini FC in the M3 League.
He also has experience coaching the national under-16 team from 2019 to 2020.
While under a one-year contract with PDRM FC, Maniam emphasised that he hopes to fulfil the trust placed in him by the club’s management by bringing out the best in his players before the Super League kicks off in May.
“I’m back in the Super League after a year coaching in the M3 (Harini FC) and I’m not here for a vacation.
“Time is limited. Management won’t give me more time if I fail. So I need to be strict and ensure that I deliver with the players I have.
“My current focus is to maintain the trust placed in me by the management and ensure that we all work towards the given KPI.”
PDRM signed three foreign players – Chidi Osuchukwu and Faith Obilor from Nigeria, and Mario Arques from Spain – to strengthen their team for this season’s Super League campaign.
Notable players developed by coach Maniam during his career include Syahmi Safari (Johor Darul Ta’zim), V. Ruventhiran (Selangor FC), Darren Lok (Sabah FC), and Mahalli Jasuli (Negri Sembilan FC).
Maniam, a former national player and Selangor FC player in the 1990s, holds a Pro Diploma license from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) which is the highest coaching qualification in Asia, equivalent to UEFA’s pro license. – April 7, 2024