The Inter-KL connection

KUALA LUMPUR: There is talk that Italian giants Inter Milan are set to join Manchester United and Barcelona in Kuala Lumpur as part of their pre-season Asian tour.

While that is being sorted out, the KL Football Association (KLFA) are ready to host a former Inter player — Loic Lumbilla-Kandja (pic).

The French striker of Congolese ethnicity is expected to arrive in KL over the weekend, where he is expected to become the second foreign talent in the Super League.

Kelantan have agreed to let Lebanese striker Zakaria Charara and Ghanaian defender Emmanuel Okine go to KL. However, KL are only interested in Charara to partner Kandja or local hitman Stanley Bernard Samuel up front.

KL have only scored two goals in five matches and remain bottom of the standings.

The FA of Malaysia (FAM) competitions committee made a surprise decision recently to extend the registration date for foreign players to Feb 13.

“Kelantan FA offered both Charara and Okine to us but since we’ve secured Kandja, we will only hire Charara for now,” said KL team manager Rusli Baba.

“KL are in dire need of support and we hope a big name like Kandja will do us some good, both in getting the goals and getting the support.”

“If he is impressive, we hope to see him in action against Johor FC (on Feb 11),” he added.

Kandja, who turns 25 on May 12, started his career with Paris FC before joining Inter Milan’s youth side in 2007. He then made several appearances for the senior team in their pre-season friendly matches before playing on loan for Swiss club Locarno the following year.

He then featured for German side VfL Wolfsburg II in 2009 and then represented UAE team Al Quwat Al Musalaha last season. He scored 17 goals out of 14 appearances for the Middle Eastern club.