KUALA LUMPUR ā Selangor FC head coach Nidzam Jamil has guaranteed that the signing of Ali Olwan will add more depth to the Red Giants’ attacking options.
The 24-year-old Amman-born forward recently joined the Red Giants as a free agent from Al-Shamal Sports Club, which competes in the Qatar Stars League.
Olwan was also one of Jordan’s key players in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup campaign in Doha, Qatar, in January this year, where he helped his country emerge as runners-up after losing to the home team in the final.
He has also made a total of 42 appearances for Jordan since 2020.
Speaking to Scoop, Nidzam said he was impressed with Olwan’s performance in the Asian Cup and had always wanted him on the team since then.
“He’s a top player, and I always wanted to get him to Selangor after watching him perform in the Asian Cup. He’s someone who can fill the void in our attacking options.
“Over the past few months, we have had problems with our attacking players, as many of them tend to get injured due to the intensity of the game. Hence, Olwan will be a great option for us if Alvin Fortes or Ronnie Fernandez are not available.
“He is a player who can play both as a number nine and number 11, and he has a lot of variations in his gameplay. It’s going to be great for our attacking depth.
“I’m excited to work with him, and I hope he can contribute to the success of the club in the years to come,” said Nidzam when contacted.
According to transfermarkt.com, Olwan is valued at US$500,000 (RM2.2 million).
At the same time, Nidzam also responded to criticisms made by certain quarters of the football community that Selangor is now being called a āJordanian clubā due to the predominant number of Jordanian players over the years.
Including Olwan, Selangor has signed a total of four Jordanian players (Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Fadi Awad, Yazan Al-Arab, and Mahmoud Al-Mardi) over the past two years.
“We do have good connections with the Jordanian footballers, and they also have a good relationship with the club. I understand that we have had several Arabic-speaking players in our team, but people should also understand that we have other players from different backgrounds, including the Chinese and Indian communities.
“I hope the fans can stop creating unnecessary issues in the name of race and religion, as we at Selangor embrace diversity and treat everyone equally,” Nidzam added.
Selangor currently ranks second in the Super League with 13 points from seven games. ā August 8, 2024