Alam Shah joins Malaysian Polis
Wang Meng Meng
553 words
27 December 2007
Straits Times
English
(c) 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Banned Singapore striker signs one-year deal with Selangor club
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.