KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor FC fans should refrain from judging Katsuhito Kinoshi before giving him a chance to prove himself, says former club legend D. Surendran.
The former player’s remarks address the social media backlash from Red Giants fans after the Japanese coach was announced as Nidzam Jamil’s successor on November 23 as fans criticised the 60-year-old Kinoshi for his lack of prior experience as a head coach.
Kinoshi was previously the assistant manager for the Serbian national team, having worked under the legendary Dragan Stojkovic in the national set-up. Selangor will be Kinoshi’s first head coaching job.
He was previously also assistant coach to sides like Guangzhou FC, Nagoya Grampus Eight and Yokohama FC.
Besides Stojkovic, he has also worked with Dutch legend Giovanni van Bronckhorst in Guangzhou and former Japan coach Akira Nishino in Yokohama.
Speaking to Scoop, Surendran, who spent his entire professional career with the Red Giants from 1996 to 2011, urged fans to trust the process and allow Kinoshi the time to demonstrate his abilities.
“It’s not fair for fans to judge Kinoshi before seeing what he can bring to the team. He could very well be the coach who restores Selangor to its former glory. Whether that happens or not, the most important thing is to give him time.
“Yes, he doesn’t have prior experience as a head coach, but people forget that he spent many years with Serbia and learned from the best. He was part of Stojković’s team during the 2022 World Cup and other tournaments.
“It’s rare for us to secure a coach with such a high profile. We need to be patient and allow him to acclimatise to Malaysian culture and the dynamics of the dressing room.
“The management has done its research and hired a better coach this time. However, I also hope they will trust Kinoshi and give him at least two seasons to experiment and see how far he can take the team,” said Surendran when contacted.
Surendran, renowned for his versatility as both a defender and midfielder, enjoyed significant success during his 15-year tenure with Selangor.
The 45-year-old won more than 10 major titles, including the Super League, FA Cup, and Malaysia Cup. He also holds the unique distinction of scoring in five domestic cup finals for the club.
Surendran also represented the national team, playing a key defensive role during the 2004 Tiger Cup and in several 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.
Currently, Selangor are in second place in the 2024/25 Super League, 11 points behind leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), who have amassed 40 points.
In the 2024/25 Asian Champions League 2 (ACL2) campaign, Selangor are on track to qualify for the knockout stage. They are currently second in Group H, two points behind leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of South Korea. – November 26, 2024