THE Super League is back after a five-month wait, but it has started off on the wrong foot.
In an unprecedented move, the Charity Shield match was called off after Selangor pulled out due to security reasons and defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) won their first three points of the season.
Selangor reasoned that they did not want to take a risk after their prized player Faisal Halim became the victim of an acid attack last Sunday. And despite the Malaysian Football League’s (MFL) assurance that security would be tightened, the Red Giants stuck to their decision.
Let’s hope there won’t be any more controversies when the other league matches kick off today.
In the past, the league has also been embroiled in unpaid wages by some clubs, racial slurs, hurtful statements on social media and unruly behaviours of fans.
The first game of the season starts with Police taking on Kedah at the Selayang Stadium at 5.30pm today. The contest is set to be a tantalising one, as coaches of both sides P. Maniam (Police) and Nafuzi Zain (Kedah) are known for their modern takes on the game.
These two teams can challenge the top sides in the league but who would be the undisputed number one club at the end of the season?
JDT are the favourites and who can argue with a side that have won the league for 10 consecutive years?
The club owner and Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said the club’s budget had been reduced but his squad remain a class above the rest.
They are powered by Brazilian striker Bergson Da Silva, winger Arif Aiman Hanapi and playmaker Fernando Forestieri, who are stars in their own right.
JDT have further added to that arsenal by signing Syrian international midfielder Jalil Elias, Portuguese midfielder Francisco Geraldes and a playmaker who terrorised Super League for many years, Romel Morales.
Those names are enough to carry the team towards their 11th consecutive title.
There will be challengers though like Selangor, Terengganu, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur, but the league is like a marathon, where patience and consistency are the keys to success – as JDT have shown for many years.
Not to forget, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will be introduced for the first time, which will only improve the quality of refereeing in the country.
The league has been reduced to 13 teams, instead of 14 like last year. This is sad as many teams could not comply with the stringent licensing requirements set by the league body.
It has been a long wait for the action to begin this season, so let’s hope there will be quality and entertainment, instead of a season mired with more controversies.
