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Satianathan

* Satianathan: No point keeping a player who has personal problems

* Show goes on for Armed Forces

Armed Forces have released national striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha without asking for any compensation from the player or his new team Terengganu.

For Armed Forces coach B. Satianathan the show goes on for the soldiers who have had a poor start to the season but certainly “not the end of the world” although the team is out of the FA Cup competition and languishing at the bottom of the Super League.

On Saturday, Armed Forces will be at ‘home’ to former kingpins Selangor at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi, Seremban – which could spell the revival of the wounded soldiers.

Satianathan said Norshahrul’s move means “others have to wake up” and do the job, revealing that S, Thinagaran will make a return to the team after a long layoff from groin injury while Christie Jayaseelan will have to up his ante and Honduras World Cupper Jerry Palacios will take over as an out and out striker after playing on the flanks to suit match strategies.

“From what I gather he (Norshahrul) has some ‘personal family matters’ that need to be arrested. So it’s best we let him go when his mind is not at peace. Without doubt we will feel his absence because of his wealth of experience, having played at international level,” said Satianathan, sounding disappointed with the turn of events that surprised many.

Norshahrul, who hails from Besut, is a known football nomad, having turned out for Perak, Negri Sembilan, UPB-My Team, Kelantan and Johor Darul Takzim before joining Armed Forces this season.

Last year Norshahrul hogged the limelight when he missed the penalty in the Malaysia Cup final which handed Pahang the most sought after silverware in Malaysian football.

In their last league match on April 4, Armed Forces fell to a 2-1 defeat to star-studded Johor Darul Takzim at the Larkin Stadium after taking the lead.

Satianathan has faith in his “bunch of fighters” and is confident that Armed Forces will move up the table from its present relegation zone and 11th position in the 12-team league.

“Look at the table standings and you will notice that it is still very close between all teams,” added Satianathan.

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