M-League: 242 matches to rekindle spirit of Malaysian football

By Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 -- A total of 242 Malaysia League (M-League) matches planned for this season is set to reignite the spirit of millions of local football fans, beginning with the Charity Shield action this Friday.

Episodes of happiness and grief over performances of coaches and players, as well as management issues and quality of officiating matches will all come to the fore, as the teams begin the new season with a fresh image following the privatisation process.

The country, which is still plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic, will see the 2021 M-League season administered with strict standard operating procedures and the sports bubble model, which means fans would still not be able to cheer on their teams from the stands.

One hundred and thirty-two Super League matches are slated to involve 12 teams, with defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) looking for their eighth consecutive title, and Selangor FC, Kedah Darul Aman (KDA) FC, Perak FC, Sri Pahang FC as well as Terengganu FC (TFC) are all ready to challenge for the throne.

Meanwhile, UiTM FC, Melaka United FC, Petaling Jaya City FC, Sabah FC, as well as newcomers Penang FC as the 2020 Premier League champions and Kuala Lumpur United FC are all more than capable of pulling off surprises and upsets during the campaign.

The Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, which is considered one of the best football stadiums in Southeast Asia, will host the Charity Shield or Sultan Ahmad Shah Cup tie between JDT and KDA FC.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the permission given by the government for the 2021 M-League competition amid the COVID-19 pandemic comes with the hope that it will be a benchmark for SOP compliance and the implementation of the sports bubble in Malaysia.

"We must not take for granted this trust (given by the government). Each one of us has to uphold the trust and play our roles to ensure that this league is conducted in a safe and successful manner,” he said during the launch of the competition on Monday (March 1).

The strict enforcement of SOPs is to ensure that the league runs smoothly without any unnecessary postponements or cancellations that will not only affect the teams’ finances, but also test the confidence of the sponsors.

The Malaysian Football League (MFL), as the governing body of the M-League, has obtained RM33.4 million in sponsorships - which also includes rights to broadcast matches - to ensure the smooth running of the competition.

The 2021 M-League competition involves the Super League, Premier League, Malaysia Cup and Challenge Cup campaigns while the FA Cup competition has been called off for the second consecutive season.

For the Premier League competition, only 11 teams will be competing this time, compared to 12 last season, with four feeder clubs set to face a challenging season against the other seven in the hunt for the top two spots.

The introduction of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)-National Sports Council (MSN) Project Squad which includes graduates from the Mokhtar Dahari Football Academy (AMD) in the Premier League is also set to make the competition more lively and interesting.

The presence of the FAM-MSN Project Squad under the guidance of head coach Yusri Che Lah also allows fans to assess the development of youth players in the country under the National Football Development Program (NFDP).

It is also hoped that no teams will suffer from the docking of points, which had to some extent, marred the experience for fans of teams with salary arrears in previous seasons.

The respective clubs should take lessons from the stern action taken in the past, as well as the privatization process, and be more organised and financially sound, in line with the mission to strengthen the local footballing scene.

-- BERNAMA