JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 22 – Seven-time Malaysian Super League champion Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) has once again proven that it is the most consistent team in the country and is on the verge of writing a new chapter in Malaysian football history.
Popularly known as the Southern Tigers, the Johor outfit is all set to pen its name in Malaysian football history books on Aug 28.
That is the day JDT will take on Sri Pahang at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru.
A win will give JDT 51 points from 20 matches and an unprecedented eight successive Super League titles in the M-League since making its debut in 2013.
The Southern Tigers have proven themselves as ”The Untouchables” in the highly competitive league since winning its first Super League title in 2014.
There has been no looking back since then for JDT, the best-managed club in the country, owned by HRH Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor.
The Super League “kingpins” also won the prestigious Malaysia Cup twice (2017, 2019); the FA Cup (2016), and the Charity Shield six times (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021).
In between, JDT also engraved its name on the AFC Cup in 2015 to become the first Southeast Asian Club to win a Continental title.
In the final played in Dushanbe, Tajikistan the Southern Tigers defeated local hope FC Istiklol 1-0 for the silverware.
On Saturday, JDT strolled to a 2-0 win over Petaling Jaya City FC – an all local side at the Petaling Jaya Stadium with goals by Bergson da Silva and naturalised Gambia-born Malaysian international Mohamadou Sumareh.
“The three points against PJ City are important for us. It gives us the chance of retaining the (Super League) title if we win our next match. It is a home match and what better place to celebrate with a win over Pahang.
“We are not over confident but we can ride on the momentum and make it count,” said JDT’s fitness coach Jorge Alvarez.
The Spaniard was in charge of the team against PJ City instead of Mexican Benjamin Mora.