Kelantan FA coach George Boateng is confident that his team's home ground, the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru, will be ready to host their first Malaysian Super League (MSL) home game against LionsXII as per schedule on Feb. 14.
The stadium was flooded due to the torrential rains that hit the east coast of Malaysia the past few months, with the entire pitch submerged in waist-high waters.
While there has been talk that Kelantan will need to play their first few home games at another venue, Boateng is confident that the club's groundsmen will get the pitch ready for their opening home match against Fandi Ahmad's Singapore team.
"The flood situation in Kora Baru is okay. We were training every day and our pre-season preparations were not disrupted. I am not worried about the condition of the stadium," the former Middlesborough star told The Star after watching his locals only line-up lose 2-0 to Penang in a friendly on Friday night.
"The ground staff will perhaps need another 10 days to make sure the stadium is ready. But our first MSL game is an away match (against ATM FA on Feb. 7), and we have three weeks before we play in our stadium on Feb. 14. This is ample time. I am happy that I don't need to be stressed out thinking about the readiness of our stadium."
Having ended last season in sixth position in the league, Boateng is keen to start the new season on the right note and has already transformed the team dynamics by bringing in four new foreign signings -- namely Australian defender Jonathan McKain, Liberian midfielder Isaac Pupo and strikers Erwin Carrillo (Columbia) and Emmanuel Kenmogne (Cameroon). Malaysian national team stars Badri Radzi and Khairul Fahmie Che Mat are other new entrants.
Even though his team lost the pre-season friendly against Penang, the Dutchman is confident about the forthcoming season and claimed that the Red Warriors will be challenging for silverware.
"I am very happy with my squad, especially the local players. Don't read too much into the result of this friendly. Give us another two weeks and we will be ready," said Boateng.
"It is going to be a long season and we have to compete in the Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup. Pahang and JDT also have their AFC Cup commitments. Kelantan can do well this year and compete for silverware."
Kelantan's opponent in their first MSL game on Feb. 7, B. Sathianathan's ATM FA are also a team in transition and will be hoping to finish higher in the standings than their 10th place of last season.