Akbar Nawas, 8 May 2022

 

SINGAPORE, 18 AUGUST 2022 – Balestier Khalsa are searching for a new head coach after the resignation of Akbar Nawas.

 

The Singapore Premier League (SPL) club announced today that the 46-year-old has given his notice and both parties have mutually agreed to part ways, adding in their statement that Akbar “will be joining Udon Thani FC in Thailand at the end of his notice period”.

 

The news comes off the back of a club-record 6-1 victory over Hougang United last Friday – the Tigers’ sixth win in 20 matches this season. Akbar, who took charge of the side last October when he signed a two-year contract worth over $170,000, leaves with Balestier sitting seventh out of eight teams after garnering 20 points.

 

The Singaporean coach will oversee two more Balestier matches – against Geylang International on 21 August and Tampines Rovers on 28 August – before leaving his role. He is the second head coach to leave the SPL this season, with Kim Do-hoon having parted ways with the Lion City Sailors earlier this month.

 

Akbar was head coach of Tampines Rovers in 2016 before leading Global Cebu in the Philippines Football League in 2017. Thereafter, he took charge of I-League side Chennai City and led them to the 2018/19 title, before returning to Singapore with Balestier. His new club, Udon Thani, are in Thailand’s second tier and lost their opening match of the new season last week.

 

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