Treble champs Kedah who won the Malaysia Cup, Super League and FA Cup titles in the last two seasons are serious about only wanting to have troupe who are loyal to their grounds and not those out to make quick money.

So far Kedah head coach, Azraai Khor has recognized five new players for their challenge next year. But Kedah are not ready to go on a bidding war with other teams to bait these players to their lines.

Coach Mohd Azraai Khor confirmed that contract discussions with the players were in the final stages and the team would be concluded before pre-season preparation begins on Oct 23.

“We would not stand in the way of a player who prefers to sign up elsewhere just because he was offered more money. In fact, we do not need these kinds of players in our squad,”

“We only want players who are seriously committed to achieving success with us and can blend with the rest of the squad’s winning mentality.”

Azraai further that they would only disclose the identities of the new players after they had been signed up.

But the Kedah football supporters is already abuzz with news that national player Indra Putra Mahayuddin is in the middle of the five new players.
The Perak-born Indra, who was one of those free by Selangor’s latest clear-out, is also high on several other teams’ hunted list.

For the 2009 challenge, Kedah have only plunged three players from previous season’s senior squad which is Rezuan Nawi, Zamzuri Isa and Hasmawi Hassan.

“Kedah will still depend on the majority of the players who brought us success in the past two seasons. Our emphasis on developing young players in the state will also continue,” said Azaari.