MSL2017 Worst Flops: #4 Francis Forkey Doe

Zulhilmi Zainal

MSL2017 Worst Flops: #4 Francis Forkey Doe image

BY        ZULHILMI ZAINAL       Follow on Twitter


Goal counts down the biggest major flops in the top competitions in the 2017 Malaysian football season, and here's number 4.

Selangor's performance in 2017 had been a mixed bag. At their best they could beat the mighty JDT twice, but when things were not going their way they would lose to Sarawak at home.

It is never easy for a team to be competitive by fielding has beens and youngsters, so their sixth-place finish should be commended, especially when their pre-season board squabbles led many to predict the side to end 2017 in relegation.

But when scrutinised, it must be said that there are aspects of the team that could have performed better and helped the side finish higher in the league and reach farther in the cup competitions.

One of these underperformers is their striker Francis Forkey Doe. Signed by Selangor at the start of the season following a high-flying season with Felda United that saw him bag 15 goals in the league alone, much was expected of the Liberian.

One goal against Pulau Pinang in their first match of the season gave him a good start, but against Melaka United next he would fail to find the back of the net. Against local rivals PKNS FC he would net a brace in the shock 5-3 defeat, but afterwards he would appear in four matches without scoring.

One of those matches included a penalty shootout defeat to Premier League side Negeri Sembilan after the match ended goalless in regulation and extra-time, which sent Selangor crashing out of the FA Cup at the second round stage.

And this is the major problem with Doe's performance this season. Playing as the main goal getter for the Red Giants, he repeatedly failed to turn up when his team needed him the most. Out of 26 competitive appearances for Selangor this season, the former Felda and Terengganu man only managed a measly 10 goals.

Forkey Doe, MSl2017 Worst Flops

Even Selangor's other forward, Spanish striker Rufino Segovia, who arrived as a mid-season transfer and played a total of only 12 matches for them managed the same number of goals.

Furthermore, his conduct off the pitch too had been questionable. In May, he was arrested by the Malaysian police for driving an unregistered car and then fined by the court for the incident, which kept him out of their away league match against Sarawak. Selangor surprisingly kept him on when the mid-season transfer window opened, but he showed no improvement.

The Red Giants are believed to have finally parted ways with the forward after the season concluded, and so far no rumours have been heard of him joining another club in Malaysia, where he has been playing as a foreign player since 2012.

At 31-years old, perhaps he needs to rejoin his former boss at Felda; Irfan Bakti Abu Salim at the recently-promoted Terengganu in order to rediscover his form.

Check out #5 in the MSL2017 Worst Flops, and wait for #3 tomorrow!

In the meantime, read our MSL2017 Best Players and Most Promising Players lists.

Zulhilmi Zainal