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WHEN LADY LUCK SMILED ON SELANGOR

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PETALING JAYA, May 3 – It was a bizarre twist of fate as Selangor FC walked away with full points in a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Petaling Jaya City FC at the Petaling Jaya Stadium on Sunday.
After equalising through Ifedayo Olusegun in the 89th minute, which wiped out PJ City’s 25th-minute lead through V. Ruventhran, the Nigerian, through a big dose of luck, netted the winner three minutes into injury time.
Ifedayo himself was stunned when his attempt in the dying minute, hit the back of PJ City defender K. Prabhakaran and looped into the net as PJ City goalkeeper Kalamullah Al-Hafiz was caught on the wrong foot.
On a wet and soggy pitch, it was PJ City who should have walked away with at least a draw, but it was not to be for P. Maniam’s team that paraded an all-local side as they have no foreign signings.
Despite the win, Selangor with their much-talked-about German football DNA under coach Karsten Netzel remains in fifth place in the 12-team Super League with 18 points at the end of their campaign in the first round while PJ City is a rung below on 14 points.
At the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah snuffed out Perak 2-1 to move up to the eighth place with 13 points.
Perak grabbed the lead after 27 minutes through a delightful left-footed freekick by Nazirul Naim from outside the penalty box but Sabah fought back and drew level with Amri Yahyah on target with a tricky volley.
The visitors gave away a freekick on 79 minutes and Sabah’s second-half substitute Levy Madinda from Gabon made it count from the opportunity.
Madinda drilled home an unstoppable grounder past the Perak wall and goalkeeper Hafizul Nizam Jothy, with the ball hitting the net just inside the left post for the winner. Sabah
now has 13 points and moved up to eighth place in the league.

PENANG’S BIG APPETITE SEND TERENGGANU STUMBLING

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Pic by PFC
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 – Brazilian Casagrande hit a brace with his deadly headers as Super League newcomers Penang FC thrashed seasoned campaigners Terengganu FC 4-1 at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu on Saturday.
It was vintage Casagrande as he nodded in high-quality headers past Terengganu goalkeeper Suhaimi Husin in a spate of three minutes, (66th and 68th minutes) for a glorious win that  sent Penang to third in the league standings with 22 points from 11 matches.
Terengganu slipped to the fourth spot 21 points from the same number of matches. Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) tops the standings with 24 points with Kedah second, one point behind the Southern Tigers.
Terengganu was torn to shreds and the painful defeat came in the wake of their 1-0 upset win over seven-time Super League champions JDT in Johor Bahru last week.
The Turtles probably thought Super League rookies Penang would be easy meat but it turned out to be a costly mistake for the East Coast hopefuls.
Their overconfidence brought them down to earth but Terengganu head coach Nafuzi Zain blamed the defeat on his team’s failure to cope with Penang’s set-pieces.
”We lost out in this aspect and paid a high price,” said Nafuzi.
Tajikistan midfielder Sheriddin Boboev opened the floodgates for Penang when the 22-year-old found the net as early as the seventh minute. Skipper Endrick Dos Santos made it 2-0 after 21 minutes.
Hakimi Abdullah, who scored the winner against JDT last week, pulled one back for the Turtles on the hour mark but that was as far as Terengganu could go before Casagrande got into his scoring act to take his tally to seven goals.
It also rained goals at the Darulmakmur Stadium in Kuantan, as Sri Pahang whipped UiTM FC 5-0 in the battle of the two bottom teams.
The Elephants opened the scoring after only 50 seconds through Lee Tuck. Pedro Henrique (34th), Baqiuddin Shamsudin (66th), Herold Goulon (71st, penalty), and an own goal by Fami Rizam (73rd) completed the scoreline.
Despite the big win, Sri Pahang remains 11th in the league with eight points from 11 matches with UiTM FC, at the bottom with one point from the same number of matches.

MAT YO STRIKES TO TAKE SARAWAK UNITED TO THE TOP IN PREMIER LEAGUE

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JOHOR BAHRU, May 2 – National striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha was the toast for Sarawak United as the East Malaysian outfit regained their top place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Johor Darul Takzim II at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka on Saturday.
It was his second goal for the team following his move from Thai club Pathum United. His first goal was in the 3-0 win over Perak 2 in March.
Popularly known as Mat Yo in the football fraternity, Norshahrul beat his marker on the turn after running into space to find the net for Sarawak’s sixth win in nine matches.
The three points off the Johor Darul Takzim feeder squad took the Golden Hornbills to the top of the league standings with 20 points from nine matches.
Head coach E. Elavarasan was more than pleased with the win as he had only one foreigner in the starting eleven – Australian defender Taylor Regan before South Korean midfielder Lee Chang-hoon came in the last 15 minutes.
Sarawak United was without their Nigerian hitman and top scorer Uche Agba who has returned home to attend the funeral of his later mother while Brazilian Sandro Mendonca is still nursing a knee injury.
”It is testing time for the team without some of the key players but we have shown character and discipline on the field. Credit to the players who have played their part well to keep the team at the top,” said Elavarasan.
The only hiccup for Sarawak United was a shock 2-0 defeat to lowly Police on April 16 following a spate of injuries to their key players.
However, the East Malaysian hopefuls have not lost a match since then.
Next destination for Sarawak United is Kota Bharu when they play Kelantan United on Friday (May 7).

IT IS A JOKE MELAKA UNITED FC TO HIRE A FOREIGN COACH

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 – Just a month ago Super League outfit Melaka United FC was slapped a three-point deduction for defaulting payment of late salaries for players and officials based on a set schedule. The same happened last year.
The joke is that Melaka United is now on the hunt for a new coach after incumbent Zainal Abidin Hassan was given a two-match grace period to “produce results” or face the sack. He passed the test with a 1-0 win over Perak FC in an away match last Sunday.
Zainal, a former international, faces even a sterner test when his team faces Kedah FC at home this Friday. Even a win over Kedah may not secure Zainal his job as there are certain parties who are determined to see Zainal out.
Melaka United FC’s chief executive officer, Datuk Mohd. Saiful May Sapri has gone on record to admit that he has received more than 10 applications for the job. “Most of them are foreigners,” he said, adding that there could also see new foreign players replacing some of the incumbents in the team.
Just a reminder that there is lot of money to be made when it comes to foreign dealings and those with clout always want changes in the team as there is “big money”  to be made at the expense of a scapegoat.
In this case, will Zainal be made a scapegoat?  It looks like Zainal is a sacrificial lamb due to some greedy people in the management. Just another reminder, lets not forget that Zainal was on the chopping list at the end of last season.
Melaka United was even dragged to FIFA for the non-payment of salaries due to foreign players over the years. Financial constraints remain the same and one wonders why Melaka United is so keen for a foreign coach?
It is also alleged that a high ranking FA official offered to settle cases for a certain fee but this was shot down by the victims of late payment of salaries.
To the Melaka United management it is best said – Do not put sand into the rice bowl of those whose livelihood is football by bringing in foreigners to fill your own pockets.
This “dirty trade” in Malaysian Football needs to arrested fast. In the past, Malaysian football is well known in FIFA for non payment of salaries and the world football governing body and the players have always won.

MORA SLAMMED FOR REMARKS AFTER TERENGGANU WIN

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PETALING JAYA, April 26 – Johor Darul Takzim (JDT)  club owner His Highness, Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim showed his sporting side to go to the Terengganu FC dressing room to personally thank the players for their splendid over the seven-time Malaysian Super League champions.
The 1-0 win achieved at JDT’s new state of art Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru on Saturday was JDT’s first defeat at their new home. It also shattered JDT’s 21-game unbeaten streak.
All that disappeared in the 56th minute – thanks to a mix-up in the JDT backline – and young Turtle Hakimi Abdullah grabbed the golden opportunity that came his way and he gleefully lifted the ball over the on-rushing JDT custodian Farizal Marlias who is also the national number one.
Terengganu head coach Nafuzi Zain attributed the win to his highly motivated players plus guts, determination and character against a team that not only has depth on the bench but players who have hogged the limelight on the Malaysian football scene.
JDT’s long-serving Mexican chief coach Benjamin Mora put up a brave front at the post-match press conference but deep inside he was “weeping” over the shock defeat. This was translated from his comments on the defeat.
“It is very sad to lose. However, after scoring the goal Terengganu players were unsporting and wasted time by faking an injury.
“JDT found difficulty in breaking into the Terengganu side as the visitors also parked their ‘players inside their own half,” said the Mexican.
“JDT will bounce back and move on. The defeat is a blot in our impressive records in Malaysian football. There will be more to come from the team.”
This has irked the Terengganu fans who have taken to social media to voice out their disappointment over Mora’s negative comments on Terengganu’s win. The fans said Mora, instead, should be sporting and accept the defeat.
Nafuzi remained humble on his team’s win and said: “‘We should ride on the momentum to keep up the pressure at the top.”
With the win over JDT, the East Coast outfit is in second place in the 12-team league with 21 points after 10 matches – two points behind leaders JDT. Kedah is in the third spot with 20 points with Penang fourth a point below.

UNDER STRENGTH SARAWAK UNITED HOLD NEGERI SEMBILAN TO A 1-1 DRAW

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 – Table-toppers Negeri Sembilan was expected to beat injury-hit Sarawak United but in the end can consider themselves rather lucky to share points with a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s Premier League match at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi, Seremban.
Both sides went into the match with contrasting results last week. Sarawak United suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Police, while Negri Sembilan won 2-1 against Kelantan.
With a full quota of their foreign legion at coach K. Devan’s disposal, Negri Sembilan was the favourite.
Instead, Sarawak United, without their South Korean midfielder Lee Chang-hoon and Brazilian forward Sandro Mendonca, went full throttle right from the start and grabbed the lead in the very first minute.
Former international Gopi Rizqi Ramachandran finished off a cross from the right to beat Negri Sembilan goalkeeper Damien Lim to give Sarawak United a morale-boosting start that rattled the home team.
From then on it was a tale of missed opportunities by both sides. Sarawak United backline boosted with the return of towering Australian defender Taylor Regan from an ankle injury, did well to thwart the homesters.
However, on the hour mark, Sarawak United finally caved in – Negeri Sembilan managed to score – thanks to a free-kick that Sarawak United gave away just outside the penalty box and it proved costly.
Cameroon forward Alain Thierry Akono, known for his powerful kicks, blasted a bullet shot that Sarawak United goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee never saw until the ball hit the back of his net. Negri Sembilan 1 Sarawak United 1.
“We were under-strength because of injuries. Despite that, the team played well and was more organized. The point earned against a team that had its full quota of foreign players is commendable compared,” said Sarawak United chief coach E. Elavarasan.
Negeri Sembilan head coach K. Devan blamed his team’s “lack of finishing” for the stalemate.
The point saw Negri Sembilan remain on the top of the league standings with 18 points after nine matches. Sarawak United, with a game in hand, is second on 17 points with Kelantan United a rung below on 16 points.

STOPPAGE TIME KILLER BLOWS WIN MATCH FOR KEDAH

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PETALING JAYA, April 24 – Kedah FC was trailing 2-1 against Kuala Lumpur City when regulation time ended, but six minutes of added time changed the entire scenario in Friday’s Super League match at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar.
In a dramatic turnaround, it was Kedah who trooped off the pitch 3-2 winners – thanks to a brace from their 33-year-old Ivory Coast hitman Kipre Techetche with his first coming from the penalty spot on 93rd minutes after KL City defender Giancarlo Gallifuoco fell Rozaimi Abdul Rahman inside the box.
In the last minute of injury time, Tchetche blasted a stinger past KL City custodian Kevin Mendoza and the Red Eagles soared to a great come-from-behind win which saw the three points they earned from the match lift them into second place in the league.
Kedah FC is now on 20 points from 10 matches – three points behind leaders and seven-time Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim who play Terengganu at home later tonight (Saturday). JDT has a game in hand.
KL City coach Bojan Hodak was fuming mad with the manner a near win slipped from his team’s grasp while his Kedah counterpart Aidil Sharin Sahak celebrated the win.
“Of course I am pleased with the team’s never give up attitude till the last minute. They had character and showed tremendous fighting spirit…this is teamwork and we deserve the win,” said the Singaporean who hailed the gritty performance of his young players.
Meanwhile, at the Petaling Jaya Stadium, it was another pathetic Selangor show as they struggled to share points with Sabah.
The Red Giants can thank their Nigerian-born Ifedayo Olusegun for the point.
Olusegun scored both the goals for Selangor in the 57th and 72nd minutes. Sabah showed great resilience against the much-touted opponents and even took the lead through Amri Yahyah (31st) minute.
Bobby Gonzales popped in the equalizer in the 88th minute just when Selangor thought they had sealed the match with a 2-1 lead.

SARAWAK UNITED SHAPING UP WELL FOR THE BIG CLASH IN PAROI

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 – The big clash between leaders Negeri Sembilan and second-placed Sarawak United at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi is the main drawcard in the Premier League this Saturday.
The top of the table clash is expected to be a fiery affair after Negeri Sembilan won 2-1 against Kelantan FC in Paroi while Sarawak United slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of lowly Police at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka which has been their ‘home’ due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Police created something out of nothing against injury-hit Sarawak United for the win but it has not destabilised the Golden Hornbills in anyway.
Instead, the East Malaysian outfit has taken the defeat in its stride and in head coach, E. Elavarasan’s own words “is ready for the challenge” against Negeri Sembilan, who have played one match more than their rivals.
 
With the win, Negri Sembilan sits on top of the table with 17 points from eight matches against Sarawak United 16 points from seven matches. 
Johor Darul Takzim II is in third place with 14 points from eight matches.
For Elavarasan and company, the defeat is history. Instead, the Golden Hornbills has taken stock of the setback against Police and has been putting in a 100 percent effort during training sessions, which are now conducted at night due to the fasting month.
“The first team for the Negeri match will be picked on merit. There is a lot of fire in the players since we resumed training last Monday. It will be an interesting match in Paroi,” said Elavarasan.

RENDEZVOUS IN BAHRAIN FOR FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 – All three foreign-based players named by national football head coach Tan Cheng Hoe for the second phase of centralized training will not report for training in Kuala Lumpur on May 16.
Instead, the trio – Luqman Hakim Shamsudin who is with KV Kortrijk (Belgium), Junior Eldstal (Chonburi FC, Thailand), and Liridon Krasniqi (Newcastle Jets, Australia), – will fly straight to Bahrain to meet up with the rest of the national squad.
Junior Eldstal

Malaysia has tight standard operating procedures (SOP) for Covid-19 for those arriving in the country from overseas and includes a two-week quarantine.

This is one of the reasons why the trio has been given the green light to fly to Bahrain from their respective places.
Cheng Hoe has shortlisted 38 players for the second phase of centralised training. The big number for the second is just to make sure there are replacements in case of injuries during the ongoing Malaysian Football League.
According to Cheng Hoe, 26-28 players will be named for the trip to the Middle East before 23 players are named for the qualifiers.
The remaining matches from Group G in the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers will be played on a carnival basis in Dubai.
Penang goalkeeper Samuel Somerville will replace injured Rahadiazli Rahalim of Terengganu.
Somerville himself is injured but is expected to recover. He was one of the players in the first batch who got their Covid-19 vaccinations in Putrajaya on Monday, together with Cheng Hoe and other coaching staff.
Harimau Malaya will play two friendly matches – against Bahrain and Kuwait – before resuming their campaign in the qualifiers.
Malaysia’s remaining Group G matches are against UAE on June 3, Vietnam on June 11, and Thailand on June 15.

SANDRO BLOW FOR SARAWAK UNITED

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 – Sarawak United will be without their Brazilian ace Sandro Mendonca for the crunch match against Negeri Sembilan in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi, Seremban this Saturday.
Chief coach E. Elavarasan has confirmed that Sandro is out for the next five or six weeks with a bad knee injury that also kept him out of the home match against Police in the last match over the weekend.
Police pulled off a shock 2-0 win in the match played at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka.
The Golden Hornbills have suffered a spate of injuries of late. South Korean midfielder Lee Chang-hoon also missed the Police match because of an injury, while towering Australian defender Taylor Regan picked up an ankle injury minutes into the match and was replaced.
Elavarasan will take stock of the players tonight (Monday) when the team reports for training – keeping his fingers crossed that the injury list will not grow as he needs his best players to face Negeri Sembilan.
Negeri Sembilan sits on the top of the table with 17 points from eight matches. Sarawak United, however, has a game over their rivals and lies in the second spot on 16 points. Johor Darul Takzim’s feeder squad JDT II is third on 14 points from eight matches.
The defeat to lowly Police could be a blessing in disguise for the Golden Hornbills and Elavarasan hopes the team will ”bounce back” from the jolt against Police.
Elavarasan and company had a sleepless night after the team’s first defeat but had come to terms with the setback – ready to rebound and keep it hot and interesting at the top of the table standings.
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