Melaka United have unveiled their new head coach for the upcoming 2022 Liga Super Malaysia season – Bosnia’s very own Risto Vidakovic. Normally such an appointment would be greeted with enthusiasm, considering the successes that Vidakovic have reaped whilst in charge of Filipino giants Ceres-Negros. However, fans of Vidakovic’s previous club Borneo FC were left angered by the appointment, with Vidakovic having walked out of the Pesut Etam only days earlier due to “family reasons brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Having been appointed in October of last year, Vidakovic was only in charge of Borneo for four months before his abrupt resignation. Vidakovic decided to part company with Borneo following the increase of COVID-19 cases around the world, particularly that of the Omicron variant, which prompted Vidakovic to leave the Pesut Etam out of concern towards his family in these tough times.
However, days after Vidakovic’s departure, instead of returning home to his family, the Bosnian instead was appointed as the new head coach of Melaka, which understandably angers the Borneo fans. They felt that Vidakovic had lied to them when departing their club, with the Borneo fans suspecting that Melaka had tapped up Vidakovic into terminating his contract with the Pesut Etam.
“You’re a lying, unprofessional head coach,” wrote an angry Borneo fan in Melaka’s Instagram post that announces Vidakovic’s signing.
“I thought you’re going back home to your family,” added another, while one Borneo fan commented, “I hope you fail there. You lied your way out of your club, may karma get you soon.”
By signing for Melaka, Vidakovic will inherit a squad that has been plagued with financial woes and unpaid wages in recent years, though the Mousedeers have vowed to sort out their financial commitments as soon as possible. Excitement remains high in the Melaka camp though, with the club reportedly close to bringing in former striker Ifedayo Olusegun, who became the Liga Super’s top scorer last season with Selangor FC. The Mousedeers were also linked with Emmanuel Oti Essigba, the former Madura United winger who has just left recently-relegated J.League side Vegalta Sendai.