New powerhouse
Kelantan are kings of Malaysian football after treble triumph
PETALING JAYA: There is no doubt that Kelantan are the new powerhouse ofMalaysian fooball.
Their success in competing the treble – FA Cup, Super League and Malaysia Cup titles – this season is a reflection of their highly dedicated management team led by Tan Sri Annuar Musa (suspended Kelantan FA president) and Azman Ibrahim (team manager).
Remember the standard of Kelantan football in the past? They were mere also-rans and won no major titles in the history of Malaysian football for 89 years.
What a tremendous revival we see today. How much of colour and excitement they bring to the game. On Saturday, more than 80,000 fans flocked to the Shah Alam Stadium for the Malaysia Cup final between the Red Warriors and Armed Forces. Guess what, more than 90% of the stadium was filled by the red-shirted Kelantan fans.
More than 100 buses were chartered from Kota Baru and other districts. They came by train, cars and even a group on bicycles.
Kelantan are the new giants of domestic football. They have been consistent going by their six Cup final appearances since 2009. They have under their belt two Malaysia Cups (2010, 2012), two Super League title (2011, 2012) and one FA Cup (2011).
In 2009, they made the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup finals but finished runners-up to Selangor and Negri Sembilan respectively.
A tribute should be given to the Red Warriors’ passionate fans, who have stood by the team through thick and thin.
Just imagine what ‘fan power’ can do to the game? Yes, Kelantan have remained unbeaten at home all season. They hold the enviable record of staying unbeaten in 33 matches in all competitions (FA Cup, Super League, Malaysia Cup and AFC Cup) at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru. Plans are now underway to get a bigger home stadium as the present one can accommodate fewer than 20,000 fans. Kafa have proposed to build a RM300mil stadium (40,000 capacity) in Bandar Baru Tunjong in Kota Baru.
Well, that’s the spirit. The Red Warriors want to move forward and scale greater heights than just being jaguh kampung like Selangor, who are content with their success in domestic competitions only.
The Red Giants are in slumber land and have gone without a silverware for the second consecutive season. What a shame? The management team should be held responsible for the rot and the dwindling home fans.
Premier League champions Armed Forces are set to be a new force in the Super League next season.
The new management have done wonders, too. Forces were the whipping boys just like Kelantan in the past.
It is good to see them become competitive and hungry for success.
The FA of Malaysia (FAM) should review the quality of some of the teams in top flight because there are teams who are not pulling their weight and contributing positively to the development of the game.
This season, we had a team who were unable to win a single game (26 matches) in the Super League.
Only the best teams should play at the top. Be it eight or even 10. The competitions committee under the chairmanship of Datuk HamidinMohd Amin should be given a pat on the back for reviewing the Malaysia Cup competition format.
Initially, it was open to all 24 teams (12 Super + 12 Premier) but it has now reverted to 16 teams.
Let us not give in to pressure from those who do nothing to help the game grow and progress. Wedon’t want to congest the domestic competition with too many matches with more than 70% of the matches played in near empty stadiums.
Let’s hope Kelantan will make waves in the AFC Cup next season. They made the quarterfinals in their debut this year before going down to Iraqi Premier League champions Arbil SC (6-2 on aggregate).
It is a simple formula, FAM. Go for quality and not quantity.
A point to ponder. The S-League will push ahead with its plan to fine the bottom two clubs from next season. They deem the short-term action as a measure to boost the ailing competition and its falling attendances.
Well, what’s our plan? The ball is at your feet, FAM.