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THE ‘BATTLE OF THE REDS’ ON TUESDAY HOLDS THE KEY FOR SELANGOR FOOTBALL’S GERMAN DNA

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 – Selangor FC registered only their second win in six matches but the three points off a 2-0 win over bottom-placed UiTM FC would not have come at a better time for the Red Giants before facing Kedah at home on Tuesday.
There is nothing to crow about the victory over UiTM FC, who went great guns last season with a sixth-place in the Super League but have struggled to get their act right this year after losing a number of their players to other teams. UiTM FC is at the bottom of the league standings with only one point after six matches.
Even a draw against UiTM FC would have been a crying shame for Selangor FC. However, two first-half goals by Oliver Buff (13th minute) and Ifedayo Olusegun (41st) was enough for a win to give the much-talked-about Selangor and their German football DNA under coach Karsten Neitzel some breathing space.
However, it is this Tuesday’s ”Battle of the Reds” cruncher at the Petaling Jaya Stadium in midweek that will spell out what lies ahead for Selangor when they face high riding Kedah, known as the Red Eagles.
Kedah comes into the match with a 3-1 win over Pahang FC and currently sits second in the table standings with 13 points (from six matches) – just a point behind leaders and seven-time league champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) on 14 points.
The win over UiTM FC gives Selangor seventh place with eight points. Selangor’s first win was over Pahang (3-1) in the opening round of the league.
It will be good to see if Kedah’s Singaporean coach Aidil Sharin Sahak can outwit the German DNA. The return to form of skipper Baddrol Bakhtiar, who scored a brace against Pahang, is a plus factor.

THE SAMBA SHOW AT CITY STADIUM GIVES PENANG FULL POINTS

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PETALING JAYA, April 4 – It was a Brazilian show at the City Stadium in Georgetown as Penang FC staged a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Perak on Saturday – a win which kept the Panthers in fourth spot of the Super League.
Penang shares 11 points with Terengganu FC after six matches with the Turtles ahead on goal difference (9-5) against Penang’s 6-4.
Interestingly it was the Brazilians who stole the show at the City Stadium with Perak’s Careca giving a shock lead for the Bos Gaurus after 12 minutes of play – thanks to a fumble by Penang goalkeeper Samuel Somerville. Careca was at the right place to turn the ball into the net.
Penang’s big name in the team Casagrande put his team on equal footing just before the halftime break when he beat Perak custodian Hafizul Nizam Jothy. The equalizer put Penang back in the picture.
That was the tonic the Panthers needed and coach Tomas Trucha was left smiling as his Panthers upped their ante after the break. The winner came in 71 minutes when Rafael Vitor sealed victory with a header.
It has been a rocky path for Perak this season since Australian coach Mehmet Durakovic quit the team and returned home before the season began. Mehmet personally picked Chong Yee Fatt as his replacement.
Although it has not been smooth sailing for Perak since then, Yee Fatt has the criteria to take the team to a higher level. Under him, Perak beat Pahang 2-0 (away) and did well to share points with seven-time league champions Johor Darul Takzim (home) with a 2-2 draw after leading 2-0.

PELUMBA TUNEBOSS PINK RACING KEKALKAN RENTAK KONSISTEN

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SEPANG, 4 April – Barisan pelumba Tuneboss Pink Racing Team (TBPR) terus mengekalkan rentak konsisten pada saingan Pusingan 2 Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia yang berakhir di Litar Sepang Utara hari ini.

Meskipun bukan kejayaan podium yang dicipta, tetapi dua pelumba kelas CP125 pasukan tersebut, Siti Norafizah Mohamad dan Harith Farhan Baharin masih boleh tersenyum bangga kerana terus berjaya meraih mata.

Ia suatu pencapaian yang yang wajar dipuji berdasarkan pengalaman serta reputasi mereka dalam perlumbaan kelas elit itu.

Hari ini, Norafizah atau lebih dikenali sebagai Fifi tetap tampil dengan rentak cemerlang apabila berjaya menempatkan diri dalam kelompok 10 terbaik.

Pada perlumbaan akhir kelas CP125 itu, Fifi satu-satunya pelumba wanita dalam kategori tersebut, menamatkan perlumbaan di tempat kelapan dengan catatan masa 11:27.978 saat (s).

Walaupun gagal mengekalkan pencapaiannya pada Pusingan 1 sebelum ini apabila menduduki tempat kelima, namun dia tetap tampil hebat tanpa menunjukkan sebarang rasa gentar berdepan cabaran daripada barisan pencabarnya.

Dia bersaingan dengan ramai pelumba ‘otai’ dalam kelas CP125, tetapi tetap mampu mempamerkan tunggangan yang bertenaga, sekali gus mengutip 8 mata kejuaraan.

Ketika mengharungi sesi kelayakan semalam, dia sekadar muncul sebagai pelumba ke-11 terpantas dengan masa 1:23.931s sepusingan dan kedudukan tersebut ternyata tidak menjejaskan semangat ketika menghadapi perlumbaan akhir hari ini.

Farhan

Rakan sepasukannya, Md Harith Farhan Baharin pula semakin memperlihatkan keselesaan dengan jentera Yamaha dan hari ini, pelumba asal Terengganu itu berjaya menamatkan perlumbaan lapan lap itu di kedudukan ke-10 dengan catatan masa 11:28.660s.

Sebelum ini pada Pusingan 1, Farhan yang mula beralih ke jentera Yamaha musim ini  menghuni kedudukan kelapan.

Lebih menarik, Farhan turut mencatat pencapaian yang sangat membanggakan pada sesi Shootout hari ini apabila muncul pelumba ketiga terpantas dengan masa 1:38.653s sepusingan.

Apa yang lebih penting buat dua pelumba ini adalah rentak konsisten mereka untuk menyumbang mata kepada pasukan TBPR yang mula membuat kemunculan di Cub Prix musim ini.

Mereka masih mempunyai banyak kekurangan baik dari segi jentera mahupun pengalaman, tetapi dua pelumba ini telah mempergunakan sepenuhnya semangat yang ada pada diri mereka untuk mengatasi segala kekurangan yang ada dalam pasukan.

Perlumbaan akhir kelas CP125 hari ini dimenangi pelumba berpengalaman dari pasukan Ipone Yamaha Pang Racing, Md Adib Rosley dengan masa 11:27.095s.

Tempat kedua dan ketiga, masing-masing dimenangi Md Hafiza Rofa (ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team) dan Ahmad Syukran Aizat Md Yusoff (CKJ Racing).

Alia

Wakil TBPR dalam kategori Wira, Siti Norsyafiyah Alia Saarizan pula masih belum menemui rentak, namun dia berjaya menamatkan perlumbaan di kedudukan ke-20 dengan masa 10:58.475s.

Menerusi pencapaian hari ini, Fifi kini menghuni tempat keenam bagi kategori keseluruhan pelumba dengan mengumpul 19 mata manakala Farhan berada di kedudukan kesembilan dengan 14 mata.

Kedudukan pendahulu keseluruhan dipegang Adib Rosley dengan mengumpul 41 mata.

Bagi kategori berpasukan, TBPR berada di kedudukan keempat dengan 33 mata.

Sebaik berakhirnya saingan Pusingan 2 hari ini, kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia akan berehat selama sebulan sempena Ramadan dan akan kembali untuk Pusingan 3 pada 22-23 Mei nanti di Litar Lumba Tangkak, Johor.

 

 

 

GOLDEN HORNBILLS SOAR OVER RED WARRIORS IN KOTA BHARU

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KUALA LUMPUR, April, 3 – Sarawak United kept their unbeaten record and a clean sheet with a 1-0 win over Kelantan in an afternoon Premier League match played at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Bharu on Saturday.

South Korean midfielder Lee Chang-Hoon turned hero for the Golden Hornbills with a 30-meter ”Kim Chi” strike that stunned Kelantan goalkeeper Faridzuean Kamaruddin in the 38th minute in the sweltering heat.
”We got the important three points through a dedicated team effort. Everyone played his part and this win is something we can count upon to our next afternoon match (against Selangor 2) in Selayang,” said Elavarasan from Kota Bharu on the win over Kelantan.
Former international goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee thwarted Kelantan’s efforts – giving added confidence to his teammates as the homesters searched for an equalizer.
On the other hand, Sarawak United had the ball in the Kelantan net for a second time, and this was in the 81st minute, but Shamie Iszuan was ruled offside.
Sarawak United left for Kuala Lumpur by bus just hours after the match.

REFEREE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AGAIN – THIS TIME IN ALOR SETAR

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 – The referees have been hogging the spotlight of late in the Malaysian League and the match referee in the Kedah FC – Pahang FC match won by the Red Eagles 3-1 took the limelight at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on Friday.
In a 50-50 challenge for the ball with Kipre Tchetche, Pahang’s French defender Herold Goulan was given a direct red card in the 17th minute much to the surprise of the Pahang bench.
“That changed the whole scenario for us,” said a disappointed Pahang coach Dollah Salleh. “Despite a man down, we were into the game until an early penalty in the second half took the wind out of us.”
Baddrol Bakthiar opened the scoring for the Red Eagles after 36 minutes but Pahang fought back to equalize through Izzat Che Awang in the 41st minute.
Kedah earned a penalty in the 48th minute when Pahang defender Faisal Rosli fouled Kpah Sherman inside the box. Sherman made no mistake from the spot for Kedah to lead 2-1 before Baddrol got his second on the night in the 71st minute.
At the Sultan Mizan Stadium in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu FC muffed chances and had to settle for a scoreless draw against Petaling Jaya City FC.
Johor Darul Takzim got back to winning ways with a 3-0 defeat of Melaka United at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru. Brazilian forward Bengson da Silva scored a brace with goals in the eighth and 82nd minutes after Adam Nor Azlin opened the floodgates with a header in the fourth minute.
The match also saw the return of a small number of fans under strict SOPs.

SELANGOR 2 SHAMED BY PERAK 2 IN IPOH

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 – Selangor’s German DNA took another beating when the Red Giants’ feeder team Selangor 2 was beaten by Perak 2, 4-3 in an afternoon Premier League match played at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh on Friday.
It was Selangor 2’s second defeat in five matches after the 2-1 defeat to a 10-men Negeri Sembilan in Selayang on March 9 while Perak 2 celebrated their second win in six matches.
Despite the defeat in Ipoh, Selangor 2 coached by German Michael Feictenbeiner remain third in the league standings with nine points from five matches but it leaves a big question mark on the much talked about German football DNA.
More disappointing for Selangor 2 is that the team has two Ghanaians on loan from Accra Lions FC – forward George Attram and defender Jordan Ayimbila. Also in the team is Burmese professional Hein Htet Aung, a graduate from the Myanmar Football Academy.
The humiliating defeat in Ipoh is all the more disturbing as Selangor 2 had come back from a 2-0 deficit after only eight minutes and even grabbed the lead minutes after the start of the second half.
Selangor 2 neutralised Perak 2’s two goals through Royizzat Daud (sixth minute) and Zulkiflfly Zakaria (8th) with goals by Saiful Iskandar (35th) and Syazwan Salihin (39th) and led 3-2 after 52 minutes via a Harith Haiqal goal.
However, the lead lasted only 10 minutes when Perak 2 substitute Hazri Ahmad found the net for his team to put the homesters back in the picture. Boosted by the equalizer Perak threw everything into attack and earned a penalty on 80 minutes which was duly converted by Zulkifli Zakaria.

TBPR TETAP INTAI PELUANG RAIH MATA DI SEPANG MINGGU INI

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KUALA LUMPUR, 2 April Tuneboss-Pink Racing Team tetap mengintai untuk mengutip mata pada saingan Pusingan 2 Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia 2021 yang akan berlangsung di Litar Sepang Utara hujung minggu ini.

Ia bukan perkara mustahil untuk dicapai jika segala persiapanmereka untuk menghadapi saingan Pusingan 2 ini berjalanlancar seperti yang dirancangkan.

Pasukan yang baharu membuat penampilan pada kejuaraanberprestij itu, sedar dengan segala kekurangan yang ada pada mereka, tetapi ia bukan halangan buat barisan pelumbanyauntuk melontarkan cabaran.

Semangat serta komitmen yang tinggi dalam kalanganpelumbanya dilihat sebagai aset penting buat Tuneboss-Pink Racing Team untuk melakar kejutan pada kejuaraanmotorsikal tertua negara itu.

Malah, mereka telah membuktikan semangat tersebut pada saingan Pusingan 1 di litar yang sama dua minggu lalu yang menyaksikan dua pelumbanya, Siti Norafizah Mohamad danMd Harith Farhan Baharin berjaya menempatkan diri dalamkelompok 10 terbaik bagi kelas CP125.

Norafizah atau lebih dikenali sebagai Fifi telah menamatkanperlumbaan akhir di kedudukan kelima manakala Farhan pula yang baharu menunggang jentera Yamaha sepanjangkariernya menghuni tempat kelapan.

Mereka berjaya mengutip mata dengan Fifi meraih 11 matamanakala Farhan pula mengutip 8 mata.

Ia dianggap sebagai satu permulaan yang baik dan lebihmenarik, Fifi pula mencipta nama menjadi pelumba wanitapertama untuk meraih kedudukan dalam kelompok 5 terbaikdalam sejarah Cub Prix bagi kelas CP125.

Hasil kejayaan yang membanggakan itu, ia telahmembolehkan pasukan TBPR untuk berada di kedudukanketiga keseluruhan bagi kategori berpasukan denganmengumpul 19 mata.

Seorang lagi pelumba wanita TBPR, Siti Norsyafiyah Alia Saarizan yang berasal dari Perak, turut menampilkan prestasiyang membanggakan dalam kelas Wira dan berjayamenamatkan perlumbaan di kedudukan ke-17.

Minggu ini, pasukan yang dimiliki seorang wanita itu, Nur Atikah Azwar,25, kembali melangkah ke litar yang samadengan harapan untuk meneruskan rentak cemerlang sepertiyang mereka pamerkan pada Pusingan 1 sebelum ini.

Tiada sasaran spesifik ditetapkan, tetapi mereka tetapmengharapkan barisan pelumbanya melakukan yang terbaikserta menimba seberapa banyak pengalaman yang bolehdalam usaha memantapkan lagi gaya persembahan mereka.

Mereka tidak memburu kemenangan podium kerana sedardengan segala kekurangan yang ada dalam pasukan.

Selain itu, TBPR juga akur dengan kemampuan barisanpencabar mereka yang sebahagian besarnya telah lama berlumba di Cub Prix.

Begitupun, jika barisan pelumbanya mampu mengulangiprestasi yang telah mereka buktikan pada cabaran Pusingan 1 sebelum ini, para peminat sukan permotoran bakalmenyaksikan satu lagi kejutan di Sepang minggu ini.

Selepas seminggu berehat, para pelumba TBPR kini beradadalam keadaan terbaik dan tahap kecergasan mereka juga sangat memuaskan.

Tempoh rehat seminggu itu dipergunakan sepenuhnya untukmenjalani latihan kecergasan bagi memastikan semuapelumbanya tetap fokus menghadapi saingan di Sepang minggu ini.

Bagi pemilik pasukan, Nur Atikah, beliau berharap agar pasukannya mampu mengekalkan momentum seperti yang mereka pamerkan pada aksi Pusingan 1 sebelum ini.

“Rasa tertekan memang ada untuk menghadapi aksi Pusingan2 ini kerana kami tidak menjangka untuk tampil agak luarbiasa pada Pusingan 1 dua minggu lalu.

Malah, tidak pernah terfikir bahawa pelumba kami mampuuntuk berada dalam kelompok hadapan pada sainganPusingan 1 itu dan situasi tersebut serba sedikit memberitekanan kepada saya,” jelas Nur Atikah.

Menurutnya, sebagai sebuah pasukan baharu dalam Cub Prix, masih banyak lagi benda yang mereka perlu pelajari, namuntetap berharap untuk melakukan yang terbaik dalam setiappusingan.

Pencapaian TBPR pada Pusingan 1

CP125 (perlumbaan akhir)

Siti Norafizah Mohamad tempat kelima

Md Harith Farhantempat kelapan

Wira

Siti Norsyafiyah Alia Saarizantempat ke-17

Kedudukan pelumba (keseluruhan CP125)

Siti Norafizah Mohamad (tempat kelima) – 11 mata

Md Harith Farhan (tempat kelapan) – 8 mata

Kedudukan pasukan (keseluruhan CP125)

Tuneboss Pink Racing Team (tempat ketiga) – 19 mata

ACPJL 2020: PEMAIN PILIHAN MELANGKAH MUDAH KE SUKU AKHIR

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KAMPAR, Perak, 2 April –  Saingan hari ketiga kejohanan Badminton AEON Credit Purple League Junior 2020 (ACPLJ 2020) menyaksikan hampir kesemua pilihan utama meneruskan kemaraan ke pusingan suku akhir.

Antara aksi hebat pusingan ke-16, menyaksikan pilihan utama perseorangan wanita Bawah 15-tahun, Sarah Ngu Xian Meow dari pasukan Cheras BC melangkah ke pusingan lapan terakhir setelah mengenepikan cabaran rakan sepasukannya Nurul Athirah 3-1.

Pemain tinggi lampai, Sarah berkata dia berpuas hati dengan persembahannya dan kelebihannya yang pernah beraksi menentang rakan sepasukannya itu, memberikannya keyakinan untuk mencatat kemenangan.

“Saya tidak dapat beraksi secara kompetitif selama lebih setahun dan berharap dengan mengharungi lebih banyak perlawanan, saya boleh menemui rentak dan kembali ke tahap terbaik,” kata Sarah.

“Saya akui wujud tekanan pada diri saya, setelah diletakkan sebagai pilihan utama tapi saya tetap yakin untuk beraksi dengan cemerlang, sekali gus  merangkul kejuaraan.”

Pilihan utama wanita Bawah 18-tahun, Isabel Liau Bei Yi dari AKBC, juga mara ke suku akhir tetapi dia terpaksa berkerja keras sebelum mengetepikan cabaran Teoh Ju Kee dari Aman Jaya BC untuk bangkit dengan mencatat kemenangan 11-7, 10-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4.

Kemenangan sengit pada kategori perseorangan memberikan kegembiraan berganda kepada Isabel, yang terlebih dahulu turut mara ke pusingan suku akhir beregu campuran.

“Saya gagal mengawal perlawanan pada peringkat awal… jurulatih saya mengingatkan saya untuk mempercepatkan rentak permainan. Nasihat tersebut berjaya menjadi kunci untuk saya menewaskan lawan,” kata Isabel

Isabel berharap untuk meneruskan rentak kemenangan dan bermula garang dari awal  perlawanan serta berjaya mengurangkan kesilapan-kesilapan mudah untuk memenangi kejuaraan.

Seorang lagi pemain kategori perseorangan Bawah 18-tahun wanita, Tan Yan Yi dari Serdang BC mencuri tumpuan dengan kemenangan selesa 3-0 ke atas Gan Wan Yan.

Dia memenangi set pertama 11-0 untuk bertemu Arieesya Sofea dari Bandar Bangi BC pada peringkat suku akhir.

Sementara itu, beregu pilihan utama lelaki Bawah 15-tahun, Tiow Shi Qin/Mohd Amirul dari Bayan Lepas BC menyingkirkan Alfred Teo/Ong Qi Fu dari Klang Rising BC 3-1 untuk mengiringi pilihan utama Bawah 18-tahun, Kenny Khew Han Yang/Mohd. Haris Sufian ke pusingan suku akhir.

Kejutan terbesar pada pusingan ke-16, menyaksikan pilihan utama lelaki Bawah 15-tahun Chow Wern Soon gagal mara ke suku akhir selepas tewas mengejut kepada 1-3 kepada Tan Kian Wei dari JBBC.

Aksi separuh akhir dan akhir ACPLJ 2020 akan berlangsung esok.

 

 

SARAWAK UNITED WITHOUT MAT YO FOR KELANTAN MATCH

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 – International Norshahrul Idlan Talaha is not in the Sarawak United team for the late afternoon Premier League match against Kelantan in Kota Bharu tomorrow.
He is being rested for a troubled knee and chief coach, E. Elavarasan is putting the setback aside with a positive approach as Sarawak United faces another tough afternoon hurdle in midweek – this time Selangor 2 in Selayang.
”Playing afternoon matches is something unavoidable due to various factors. It is up to us to make good…and one way is to be consistent. We need consistency to keep our challenge. As for injuries, it is part and parcel of the game,” said Elavarasan on his arrival with the team in Kota Bharu on Friday.
The league resumed on Friday after the international break with the national squad undergoing a training stint in Johor Bahru from March 22.
The nine-day stint was later reduced to seven days as national head coach Tan Cheng Hoe wanted the players to be given an earlier break so that they could train with their respective clubs.
Norshahrul was part of the national training squad preparing for Malaysia’s remaining matches in the Group G qualifiers for the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 which will be played on a carnival basis in the United Arab Emirates.
During the national break, Sarawak United played a friendly match to maintain the match competitiveness.
The positive result in the friendly gives the East Malaysian side hope of keeping pace at the top.
Sarawak United is unbeaten after four matches and is in second place with 10 points. The only hiccup came before the break when the team dropped points in a scoreless draw against Terengganu II. Negri Sembilan tops the standings with 13 points but has played one match more.
“We will use the dropped points against Terengganu II as a motivating factor for us to work harder. We have to score from the opportunities we create. It is always tough playing Kelantan away,” added Elavarasan.

TERENGGANU FC LOSE KEEPER RAHADIAZLI FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON

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Rahadiazli Rahalim
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 – The Malaysian Super League resumes on Friday (April 2) after the international break, but it is news from Kuala Terengganu that has rocked east coast giants and strong contenders Terengganu FC.
Second-placed Terengganu has confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Rahadiazli Rahalim, who earned a national call-up from coach Tan Cheng Hoe recently, is out for the rest of the season with an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury which needs surgery.
The recuperation is long-term – which means he can forget this season, says team manager Zul Fadli Rozi.
The Turtles are currently in second place in the 12-team Super League with 10 points after five matches – ahead of Kedah on goal difference.
Head coach Nafuzi Zain will now count upon reserve keeper Sharmiza Yusof and feeder squad keeper Suhaimi Hussin to replace Rahadiazli.
Terengganu resumes the league with a home match against all-local side Petaling Jaya City FC. PJ City is fifth in the table standings with eight points after five matches.
Meanwhile,seven-time Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim’s (JDT) midfielder Natxo Insa is suspended for Friday’s home match against Melaka United FC at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru.
The 34-year-old found guilty of gross misconduct by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) disciplinary committee on Thursday when he laid his hands on match referee Noor Azriel Baharudin after JDT’s away match against Perak on March 21.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw after the Southern Tigers fought back from 2-0 down at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.
Insa was also slapped with an RM10,000 fine. While he sits out the Melaka United FC match, Insa’s second match suspension is suspended and will depend on his behavior.
JDT will not feel Insa’s absence against Melaka United FC as Mexican coach Benjamin Mora has enough depth for a replacement to carry on the Southern Tigers challenge for their eighth league title in a row.
The southern team leads the table with 11 points from matches and is still unbeaten although the last two matches ended in a stalemate (1-1 with Penang) at home before the draw against Perak.

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