Malaysia Super League (MLS) giants Kelantan FA have cancelled their home friendly against Indonesia Super League (ISL) side Persija Jakara scheduled on Jan. 4 because of floods.
Kelantan's home ground, the Sultan Mohammed IV Stadium in Kota Baru, is under water after torrential rain drenched the east coast of Malaysia.
"Due to the flood situation, we have been forced to call off training," team manager Azman Ibrahim told New Straits Times. "The training ground has not been affected by the floods. But players have difficulty getting to the training ground from their houses. So we have decided to give them four days off in the hope that the situation will improve."
Kelantan -- who finished sixth in the league standings in 2014 -- have also cancelled their friendly against Thailand's BEC Tero Sasana scheduled for late January. Instead, the club will play friendlies in Kedah and Perak in the middle of next month.
With the MSL kicking off on Feb.7, there is also a question mark over the preparedness of their home ground. "The stadium is under water and we will have to wait to see how bad it is after the water recedes," said Azman. "It could take a few weeks to get the pitch back in shape. But hopefully there will be enough time to get it ready for the start of league."
Kelantan coach George Boateng will hope to resume his team's training from Dec. 29.
During the off season, Kelantan have strengthened their squad by signing four new overseas players. Australian international defender Jon McKain has come in from Adelaide United and Colombian forward Erwin Carillo from Union Magdalena. Liberian midfielder Isaac Pupo and Cameroonian striker Emmanuel Kenmogne have both been added from Indonesian club Persebaya Surabaya.
Kelantan have also signed former national skipper Norhafiz Zamani Misbah from Negeri Sembilan and defender Noor Hazrul Mustafa from Perak. Striker Norfarhan Muhammad has returned to Kelantan from Terengganu for a third stint with the club.