KL join the big boys in Super League

By ERIC SAMUEL

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur have been promoted to play in the Super League next season.

The competitions committee chairman, Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, said that the city side were picked based on their good track record and management in the Malaysian Super League (MSL).

“The withdrawal of UPB-MyTeam and Kuala Muda Naza has left us with only13 teams in the top flight. We need to round up the figure to 14 teams and the committee felt that KL were the best choice,” he said yesterday.

He said that all 14 teams in the Super League and 12 sides in the Premier League have met the requirements of the FA of Malaysia (FAM) to compete next season.

The FAM also allowed Tambun Tulang of Perlis to remain in the FAM Cup competition even though they have won promotion to play in the Premier League.

Che Mat said that Tambun Tulang faced financial constraints to compete in the Premier League and USM of Penang will take the slot.

The 14 teams in the Super League are Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, KL Plus, Johor FC, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and promoted sides T-Team Terengganu, Johor, Harimau Muda A and KL.

The 12 teams in the Premier League are Sabah, Sarawak, Police, Armed Forces, PKNS, KL Pos, Harimau Muda B, Felda United, Shahzan Muda, Malacca, Pahang and promoted USM of Penang.

The committee also decided that teams would have to qualify on merit for places in the 16-team Malaysia Cup next season.

The top 12 from the Super League and the top four in the Premier League make the cut for the competition beginning on Sept 14 with the final scheduled for Nov 20.

This year’s Malaysia Cup competition featured 20 teams – all 14 states, Police, Armed Forces and the top four clubs.

Che Mat also announced that the deadline for registration of players for the MSL is Dec 6. The draw for the 33-team FA Cup knockout competition will be held on Dec 17.

The Super League kicks off with the Charity Shield match between Negri Sembilan and Selangor at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Jan 9. The league matches are expected to be completed by July 24.

Premier League matches will be played between Jan 11 and July 23.

The committee also decided that the MSL would take a break for Sukma (Malaysia Games) and the World Cup. Sukma in Malacca are scheduled for June 10-19. The World Cup Finals will be played between June 11 and July 11.