Nafuzi to step down as TFC head coach at end of 2022 season

KUALA NERUS, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- Head coach Nafuzi Zain has turned down an offer from Terengganu FC (TFC) to extend his contract with the Turtles, said Terengganu Football Club (TFCSB) chief executive officer Ab Rasid Jusoh.

“We received his letter of reply that was sent to the TFCSB office at 4.47 pm yesterday. He did not agree to our offer for his contract to be extended,” he told a media conference after the signing of the 2023 sponsorship agreement between TFCSB and Terengganu state government subsidiaries - Terengganu Inc Sdn Bhd (Terengganu Inc), Eastern Pacific Industrial Corporation Berhad (EPIC), Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd (SATU) and Ladang Rakyat Terengganu Sdn Bhd.

However, Ab Rasid said Nafuzi will be in charge of the team’s three remaining matches in this season’s Malaysia Cup competition.

Meanwhile, Ab Rasid said TFCSB will seek a new head coach for the 2023 Malaysia League (M-League) season, adding that the candidate’s credentials must either match or be better than Nafuzi’s.

“This is to ensure continuity and the team’s performance will not be affected,” he said, while also expressing his appreciation to Nafuzi for his contribution in bringing TFC to the FA Cup final this season and the Asian Confederation Cup (AFC) stage next year.

Nafuzi began his career with Terengganu in 2016 as head coach of the T-Team President’s Cup squad before being named assistant coach to the Terengganu first team from 2017 to 2019.

Nafuzi was promoted to TFC head coach in 2020 and his contract will end on Nov 30. 

-- BERNAMA