BREAKING NEWS: Fakri joins Kelantan on a 2-year deal

SC Athletico striker, Ahmad Fakri Saarani has officially agreed to sign with Malaysian defending treble, Kelantan FA for a two-year contract.

Copyright Tan Sri Annuar Musa

Ahmad Fakri Saarani has put an end to speculation regarding a move to Malaysia treble-winner Kelantan when he signed on a two-year deal announced by Kelantan favourites Tan Sri Annuar Musa via Facebook platform. 

The move deemed to be significant for Kelantan fans, following a slow start this season, notching up only ten points from eight matches and the defending champions lies seventh in the table. 

Attacking department has been a major problem so far for The Red Warrior, scoring only seven goals this season. Kelantan current striker, Keita Mandjou has met with plenty of criticism from fans, have a tendency of profligacy and squandering a lot of chances in front of goal in which troubled Kelantan from winning since. He has since ended his goalscoring drought, scoring three goals in two games.

With the arrival of new import Dickson Nwaekaeme, who looks most likely to replace Keita Mandjou when April transfer window open, Kelantan defender Obinna Nwaneri might as well shown to the exit door, with Kelantan head coach keen to register both striker Dickson Nwakaeme and Dimitri Petratos as two-quota import for Malaysia Super League fixtures, to improve the attacking side that has been dreadful this season.

Fakri Saarani is a former player for Harimau Muda A, Perak FA, Perlis FA, Negeri Sembilan FA, and Felda United before plying trade with Portuguese Third Division outfit Athletico SC on December last year. He boasted 19 international caps and scored one goal. 

Fakri set to Kelantan?

FAKRI SAARANI TO KELANTAN?

Will Fakri decides to move back to Malaysia just like Nazmi Faiz?

According to sinarharian.com.my, defending treble Kelantan FA were very much interested in signing Athletico SC forward, Ahmad Fakri Saarani when the transfer window is open on April 8, to bolster the squad strength in attack, due to their team goal drought, having only five goals scored this season. The presence of Fakri's assistant manager Faisal Zakariah and agent Marco Guimaraes strongly suggest that the move is on the line and Fakri himself reportedly interested.

Fakri Saarani going abroad

Photo Coutesy from sokernet.com.my

Ahmad Fakri Saarani is set to become Malaysia's third player that will plying trade outside of Malaysia, after being approached by Marco Guimaraes, a football agent who is the one who arranged Nazmi Faiz move successfully to SC Beira Mar, to play for Atletico Sport Clube in Teircera Liga, a second division league in Portugal, for a six-month contract. He also receives several offers from Malaysia Super League clubs, as well as other Portuguese clubs in higher division, but worried he may not get a first team chances as much as he would have hope. The club head coach, Paulo Simao, is said to be impressed with Fakri after watching him playing in the video. The 23 yeor-old will join the club as soon as the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 competition is over. Fakri, who is considered as a former Malaysian wonderkid, scored a hat-trick at the age of 18, when he played for Perak in Malaysia Super League match against Negri Sembilan, and later went on to play for Perlis, which he plays in his best form and became a highlight of his career. He is also part of Harimau Muda who won 2008 Malaysia Premier League title, Gold medal in 2009 SEA Games and 2011 SEA Games. He is also successful in club level, winning 2011 Malaysia Cup title by beating Terengganu with Negri Sembilan. He suffered a long-term injury when he is still playing for Perlis and on the verge of signing for Negri Sembilan and subsequently ruled out to play for 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. He recovered from his injury since then but could not regain his form and performances, after he struggled both in club level and international level, and even after move to Felda United earlier this year, he could not live up to the expectation, as he is tipped to become one of the brightest young talent that Malaysia have after years of drought in producing young talent. This move may as well rejuvenated his form back to his best and to be a regular starter in the first eleven for the national setup once again.