Kelantan Red Warrior F.C.

This article is about Kelantan Red Warrior Football Club. For Kelantan The Real Warriors, see Kelantan The Real Warriors F.C. For Kelantan, see Kelantan F.C.

Kelantan Red Warrior

Full name	Kelantan Red Warrior Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Red Warrior
Short name	KRW
Founded	21 December 2024;8 months ago (21 December 2024)
Stadium	Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium
Capacity	22,000
President	Muhamad Zaki Harun
CEO	Wan Mohd Fajarul Ekram
Head coach	Irfan Bakti Abu Salim
League	Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League
2025–26	TBD
Website	kelantanredwarrior.com
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Kelantan Red Warrior Football Club is a Malaysian professional football club based in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. They play in the second division of the Malaysian football league system, the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League. ^[1]

History

Formation and early years

The club was founded on 21 December 2024 by the chairman of the Gerakan Selamatkan Kelantan FC (GSK) Nik Hafiz Naim Nik Hassan in a joint venture with the Football Association of Kelantan. ^[1] On 16 January 2025, Irfan Bakti Abu Salim has been appointed as the club's head coach. ^[2] On 5 June, the club has been accepted to join the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

FIFA investigation, new ownership

In July 2025, FIFA issued a notice to KRW, requesting clarification on whether it is the “sporting successor” of Kelantan FC, due to outstanding wages and debts from the old club. ^[8] KRW denied any legal or structural ties with Kelantan and stated it was an entirely new club. ^[9] In August 2025, Nik Hafiz stepped down as KRW president and relinquished all interests to facilitate the league registration. ^{[10] [11] [12]} Dato’ Zaki Harun, the former Kelantan chief police officer, was appointed as the new president of KRW. ^[13]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
2025–	Warrix [14]	Nasken Coffee

Stadium and location

Coordinates	Location	Stadium	Capacity	Year
6°7′26″N102°14′36″E / 6.12389°N 102.24333°E / 6.12389; 102.24333	Kota Bharu	Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium	22,000	2025–present

Players

First-team squad

As of 22 August 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   MAS Amin Faisal 3 DF   MAS Muhammad Faudzi 4 MF   MAS Arham Khussyairi (vice-captain) 6 MF   MAS Fariz Zaidi 7 FW   PAK Otis Khan (captain) 8 MF   MAS Azraf Azam 9 FW   MAS Norshahrul Idlan 11 FW   MAS Fazli Ghazali 12 FW   MAS Rafie Yaacob 13 MF   MAS Latiff Suhaimi 18 MF   MAS Faiz Nasir 19 DF   MAS Syafiq Izzudin 22 GK   MAS Shafiq Afifi 24 MF   CMR Emmanuel Mbarga 27 DF   MAS Aikal Daniel

No. Pos. Nation Player 29 DF   MAS Nazmi Cik Ani 31 MF   MAS Zuasyraf Zulkiefle 32 FW   MAS Nik Azli 33 GK   MAS Harif Hazli 41 MF   MAS Niam' Mulhassan 44 DF   MAS Iskandar Shah 47 FW   MAS Adib Aiman 49 FW   MAS Rizuan Muda 66 DF   MAS Fahrin Azizuddin 72 DF   MAS Mikhail Zakaria 77 DF   MAS Aiman Joanny 88 MF   MAS Muhaimin Izuddin 91 FW   KEN Ismael Dunga 94 FW   MAS Mazwan Che Mat

Club staff

As of 23 August 2025

Technical staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Irfan Bakti Abu Salim [15]
Assistant head coach	Kamarudin Anuar
Assistant coach	Mohd Sideek Samsudin
Goalkeeper coach	Ismail Chawalit
Fitness coach	Ghazali Husin
Physiotherapist	Wan Muhammad Farid
Team doctor	Mohd Azaad A. Hamid
Kitman	Muhammad Ridhuwan Mansor

Management

Position	Name
President	Muhamad Zaki Harun
Chief executive officer	Wan Mohd Fajarul Ekram
Chief operating officer	Nik Khuzaimi Nudin

Coaches

As of match played 6 September 2025

List of Kelantan Red Warrior Coaches

Name	Nationality	From	To	M	W	D	L	GF	GA	Win %	Ref
Irfan Bakti Abu Salim	Malaysia	16 January 2025	Present	2	0	2	0	1	1	000.00

Presidents

The following have been president of the club's board of directors:

Period	Name
21 December 2024–2 August 2025	Nik Hafiz Naim Nik Hassan [16]
18 August 2025–	Muhamad Zaki Harun [17]

References

1. "RM2 juta hidupkan KRW, sah mohon bertanding Liga A1". Harian Metro. 21 December 2024.
2. "Irfan Bakti kemudi KRW". Berita Harian. 16 January 2025.
3. "Kelantan Red Warrior sah 'kembali' Sabtu ini". Berita Harian. 15 December 2024.
4. "Kelantan Red Warriors mahu ganti TRW". Utusan Malaysia. 21 December 2024.
5. "Kelantan Red Warriors ganti The Red Warriors". Sinar Harian. 21 December 2024.
6. "Kelantan Red Warriors sedia ganti TRW". Berita RTM. 21 December 2024.
7. "Kelantan Red Warriors mahu ganti TRW". Kosmo!. 21 December 2024.
8. "Confusion over Kelantan team's rebranding draws FIFA's attention". The Star. 27 July 2025.
9. "KRW tak salin kulit nafi dakwaan FIFA". Kosmo. 28 July 2025.
10. "Hafiz steps down as president to keep Warriors in A1 Semi Pro League". The Star. 4 August 2025.
11. "Liga A1: Nasken Coffee ambil alih KRW FC, usaha selamat daripada sekatan". malaysiagazette.com. 4 August 2025.
12. "KRW FC kini milik Nasken Coffee". sinarharian.com. 2 August 2025.
13. "Ex-Kelantan Police Chief Appointed KRW FC President". bernama. August 18, 2025.
14. "New Era Begins: Warrix to Power Kelantan Red Warriors FC Until 2027". Universal Sports. 7 May 2025.
15. "Irfan Bakti dilantik ketua jurulatih Kelantan Red Warrior". Astro Awani. 17 January 2025.
16. "Presiden letak jawatan, Kelantan Red Warrior kini milik syarikat kedai kopi tempatan". stadiumastro.com. Stadium Astro. 2 August 2025.
17. "Bekas Ketua Polis Kelantan dilantik Presiden KRW FC". kosmo.com.my. Kosmo!. 18 August 2025.

External links

• Official website