Khair Jones returns to Melaka United

MELAKA, Dec 2 -- After serving Kuala Lumpur this season, defender Khair Muhammad Jefri, who is also popularly known as Khair Jones, returned to Melaka United for the Super League next season.

The Melaka United Soccer Association (MUSA) through a statement today noted that Khair, 30, who was also a former national team player, is no stranger to the Hang Tuah squad supporters as he was the key player for Melaka United in lifting the Premier League trophy in 2016.

"We welcome him back. The return of Khair Jones to Melaka will witness a competition to fill the team’s defence line for the next season," said the statement, here today.

The player of Malaysian and New Zeland parentage joined Melaka United in 2016 from Hawke's Bay United club in New Zealand and remained with the team until the 2018 season before moving to Kuala Lumpur this season.

Khair, who plays as a left-back and could also play as a centre back, has collected four caps and netted one goal while playing with the Harimau Malaya squad.

Besides Khair, the association also announced that they had secured the services of three experienced players, namely Muhammad Ferris Danial Mat Nasir (striker), Nurridzuan Abu Hassan and Khairul Anwar Shahrudin (midfielder).

The statement noted that  Muhammad Ferris Danial, 27, had been with Melaka United in 2016, and had been with Negeri Sembilan for two seasons before returning back to the team.

While Nurridzuan, 27, previously played with Selangor for two seasons and Khairul Anwar, 29, was with Terengganu FC last season.

Meanwhile, MUSA president Damian Yeo Shen Li said Melaka United had confirmed 21 players for next season under the helm of head coach Zainal Abidin Hassan.

"Scouting for another six to seven players including another import and some younger players whom I hope will become star players one day," he said when contacted by Bernama.

-- BERNAMA