Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Singapore: Singapore’s Tampines Rovers will start their AFC Cup 2017 campaign without Akbar Nawas who has stepped down as head coach.
Akbar, who took charge of Tampines last May, leaves the club with just a month to go before the start of the new S.League season in Singapore.
He guided Tampines to the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup in 2016 where they lost to eventual runners-up JSW Bengaluru FC of India.
On Wednesday, Tampines failed to qualify for the AFC Champions League 2017 after a 2-0 Play-off loss at the hands of Filipino side Global FC, but Akbar has maintained that the separation was amicable.
"I was certainly not asked to leave - it was mutually agreed (upon)," he was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.
"I won't deny that remuneration is a key factor as I have a young family and so it has been an important consideration for me. But I have always reassured the club that I will always be there to help them out, especially in their pre-season work.
"Tampines Rovers will always be close to my heart and I have told the club they can still count on me for any form of assistance.
"They appreciate that and we will be exploring ways for me to still have some involvement.”
The five-time S-League champions are in Group G of this season's AFC Cup alongside Vietnam champions Hanoi FC, 2016 Malaysia Super League runners-up Felda United and Ceres Negros of the Philippines.
Photo: Lagardère Sports