Malaysian striker Safee Sali extended his contract with West Java club
Pelita Jaya on Wednesday, jeopardizing his chance to play for his
national team.
Pelita Jaya plays in the breakaway Indonesian Super League, whose players have been barred by world football’s governing body from national duty.
Safee, who is Pelita Jaya’s captain, signed a two-year extension with the team for 2 million Malaysian ringgit ($658,000). He’ll earn $30,000 a month, not including match bonuses, and will receive free housing, a car with a personal driver and return air tickets to Kuala Lumpur.
The deal, according to the Web site of the New Straits Times, a Malaysian newspaper, makes Safee Malaysia’s first millionaire footballer.
“I’m happy to stay at Pelita Jaya, especially since the new coach [Rahmad Darmawan] joined the club. I want to learn from him,” the 28-year-old striker told reporters. “My football has improved so much since I moved to Indonesia last February.”
It was a risky decision for Safee, given that Pelita Jaya plays in the ISL. In December, FIFA, world football’s governing body, ruled that players in the breakaway league could not play for their national teams.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had asked Safee to leave Pelita Jaya so he would still be available for national duty. In 63 games with Malaysia, Safee has scored 38 goals.
It had been rumored that Safee was going to sign with Harimau Muda, a Malaysian team that plays in Singapore’s domestic league, when his contract expired on Tuesday.
But Safee, who has scored six times for Pelita this season, is staying put.
“I’m a professional player, which means I decide everything on my own. Nobody can forbid me to play in the ISL,” he said.
Safee’s manager, Zakaria Rahim, said he had already explained everything to FAM.
“I told FAM that the ongoing dispute inside the PSSI [Indonesian Football Association] won’t be affecting the club and Safee as a player. They could understand that and let Safee determine his future,” he said.
The contract, Zakaria added, has a clause that could see the striker play for another club under Pelita Jaya Cronus, which owns Pelita. Cronus is the sporting arm of Indonesia’s Bakrie Group.
Cronus has controlling stakes in the Australian A-League’s Brisbane Roar and Belgian second-division club CS Vise.
“The contract says Safee will be given a chance to join other clubs that are owned by Pelita Jaya Cronus,” Zakaria said.
Pelita is currently in seventh place in the 18-club ISL with 14 points from 10 matches.
Pelita Jaya plays in the breakaway Indonesian Super League, whose players have been barred by world football’s governing body from national duty.
Safee, who is Pelita Jaya’s captain, signed a two-year extension with the team for 2 million Malaysian ringgit ($658,000). He’ll earn $30,000 a month, not including match bonuses, and will receive free housing, a car with a personal driver and return air tickets to Kuala Lumpur.
The deal, according to the Web site of the New Straits Times, a Malaysian newspaper, makes Safee Malaysia’s first millionaire footballer.
“I’m happy to stay at Pelita Jaya, especially since the new coach [Rahmad Darmawan] joined the club. I want to learn from him,” the 28-year-old striker told reporters. “My football has improved so much since I moved to Indonesia last February.”
It was a risky decision for Safee, given that Pelita Jaya plays in the ISL. In December, FIFA, world football’s governing body, ruled that players in the breakaway league could not play for their national teams.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had asked Safee to leave Pelita Jaya so he would still be available for national duty. In 63 games with Malaysia, Safee has scored 38 goals.
It had been rumored that Safee was going to sign with Harimau Muda, a Malaysian team that plays in Singapore’s domestic league, when his contract expired on Tuesday.
But Safee, who has scored six times for Pelita this season, is staying put.
“I’m a professional player, which means I decide everything on my own. Nobody can forbid me to play in the ISL,” he said.
Safee’s manager, Zakaria Rahim, said he had already explained everything to FAM.
“I told FAM that the ongoing dispute inside the PSSI [Indonesian Football Association] won’t be affecting the club and Safee as a player. They could understand that and let Safee determine his future,” he said.
The contract, Zakaria added, has a clause that could see the striker play for another club under Pelita Jaya Cronus, which owns Pelita. Cronus is the sporting arm of Indonesia’s Bakrie Group.
Cronus has controlling stakes in the Australian A-League’s Brisbane Roar and Belgian second-division club CS Vise.
“The contract says Safee will be given a chance to join other clubs that are owned by Pelita Jaya Cronus,” Zakaria said.
Pelita is currently in seventh place in the 18-club ISL with 14 points from 10 matches.
***sources: thejakartaglobe.com
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