Southeast Asia Europe

Egy and Witan Leave Senica as Club’s Top-Flight License was Revoked

Indonesia internationals Egy Maulana Vikri and Witan Sulaeman have officially departed financially-stricken Slovak Super Liga side FK Senica, who were recently declared bankrupt and had their top-flight license revoked by Slovak footballing authorities.

Senica had been plagued with financial difficulties in recent months, with players and staff members going unpaid since last year. This led to a number of players – including Egy and Witan – as well as then-head coach Pavel Sustr to temporarily walk out on the club, refusing to play against Tatran Liptovsky Mikulas in a league match back in April. Sustr has since then left Senica as he felt disgusted by the club higher-ups’s inability to pay their players and staff members as well as the constant false promises that the management had given to them.

Senica’s financial woes had gone so bad, they were unable to pay the domain of their official club website, leading to it being shut down altogether.

The Slovak footballing authorities are well-aware of Senica’s financial shortcomings and despite finishing the season outside the relegation zone, Senica, alongside fellow top-flight side SKF Sered’, had their Super Liga licenses revoked by the authorities, which meant that they were expelled from next season’s Slovak top-flight.

A meeting will be held by the Slovak footballing authorities in due time to decide which club will replace Senica in next season’s Super Liga, with last year’s Slovak second-tier runners-up Dukla Banska Bystrica being set to replace Sered’ in the top-flight. It’s most likely that second-tier bronze medalists MFK Skalica will be the one who will take over Senica’s spot in the Super Liga.

Indonesian football supporters immediately flooded Senica’s last social media post, thanking the club for having given both Egy and Witan the chance to shine in Europe and not using them as mere marketing tools to boost the club’s presence in Indonesia. Egy had made 26 appearances in all competitions and scored twice during his Senica tenure, while Witan made 12 appearances in all competitions and scored four times.

Witan has since returned to his parent club, Polish Ekstraklasa side Lechia Gdansk, having signed for Senica on loan. Egy, on the other hand, is now a free agent, with his next port-of-call to be announced in the near future.