Demi-god Bojan

Bojan Hodak can do no wrong in Kelantan. Pic: ZM Images

It's pretty nigh impossible for Bojan Hodak's star to shine any brighter right now. The Croatian coach yesterday led his Kelantan team to an historic domestic treble in Malaysia, by winning the Malaysia Cup in extra time with a 3-2 win over the Armed Forces. It follows on the back of his earlier successes this season in winning both the Malaysia Super League and their FA Cup. He can do no more on the domestic front and has been elevated to demi-god status by the vociferous Kelantan fans. Hodak was in charge at Phnom Penh Crown for half of the 2011 season before he left for a spell as assistant coach at Shandong in China, arriving in Kelantan in March. However, not everything he touches turns to gold, as his team were knocked out of the AFC Cup by Iraq's Abril in the quarter-finals over two legs. But I'm sure that's a mere blip he will be looking to overturn when next season comes around.

Bojan is the man

Bojan Hodak faces the press after Kelantan clinched the Super League

Over in Malaysia, former Phnom Penh Crown coach Bojan Hodak has been elevated to god-like status by the Kelantan fans as he guided their club to their second successive Malaysian Super League championship title yesterday. 25,000 home fans watched the team thrash third-placed Perak 6-0 to confirm their league success. The hero-worship for the Croatian coach began in earnest when Kelantan claimed the Malaysia FA Cup for the first time in May and the league title merely adds more weight to a reputation that will be further enhanced if his team can progress through the AFC Cup quarter-finals due in September. Hodak was the coach at Crown for the first half of last season before he left for a spell as assistant coach at Shandong in China, arriving in Kelantan in March. Since then, the only way has been up.