March 6, 2004
Jaguars coach Moey Yoke Ham has calls it a day & returns to Malaysia after just 1 game into the new season & Tanjong Pagar United have been plunged into a crisis.
Still licking their wounds following a resounding 3-0 home defeat against Albirex Niigata in their opener, the Jaguars will now need a new coach. The Malaysian had met with club chairman Matthew Kang & decided to resign as head coach citing family problems as the reason.
Moey Yoke Ham conceded that he has let the Jaguars down with his unexpected decision but he also believed it would not be fair to the club if he had stay on as he would not focus on the job ahead. He believed he should leave & let another coach take over so that the Jaguars have a chance to reach greater heights.
This is not the 1st time Moey Yoke Ham had done it as he had resigned as Gombak United coach in 2002 following a series of poor results.
While Moey Yoke Ham declined to elaborate on his family problems, the Malaysian stressed that his resignation had nothing to do with the Jaguars' lacklustre performance in the opening match. He claimed that is no shame to lose to such a competent team like Albirex & the rest of the S-League will know that.
Whatever the reason for his decision to quit the club, it was poorly timed & a show of bad faith especially as the club has stick with him despite calls by some fans for Moey Yoke Ham to leave.
Jaguars Chairman Kang moved quickly to calm the storm & called an emergency team meeting in which assistant coach Swandi Ahmad was appointed as caretaker coach. Boucher will assist Swandi, who has an Asian Football Confederation "A" coaching licence, as Boucher holds a Uefa "A" coaching licence.
Jaguars Chairman Kang also stated the club is looking for a new coach but the club will not be rushed into making a new appointment as yet.