JDT celebrate fifth straight Super League title in style
PETALING JAYA: Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) celebrated their fifth consecutive league victory in extravagant style.
The Southern Tigers beat relegation battlers Kelantan 4-0 in their Super League clash at the packed Larkin Stadium on Friday to put the cherry on the cake with goals
To be a successful football club, you have to be a powerhouse. You cannot be a museum. Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim
from Fernando Elizari (51st minute), Afiq Fazail ( 56th), Safawi Rasid ( 80th) and Safiq Rahim (87th).
JDT had won the Super League crown early last week with four games to play to underline their dominance. They’ve now collected 53 points from 20 matches in the 12-team table, while Kelantan lan-
guish at the bottom with 15 points.
The win was also historic as JDT will become the first Malaysian club to play in the group stage of the AFC Champions League next season.
Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the owner
of JDT, and his sister Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim – the club president – watched the match from the stands.
The victory was followed by a trophy presentation ceremony, as team skipper Hariss Harun lifted the Cup to vociferous cheers from
the home crowd.
Tunku Ismail then addressed the crowd, thanking them for their continued support for the team.
He also stressed that the changes in the Super League fixtures did not help them win the title and his team needed to strive harder to
win more accolades.
“To all the fans, I’d like to thank you sincerely.
“The success we achieved this year is more meaningful as it qualifies us for the group stage of next year’s AFC Champions League,” he said.
“Championships are won on the field where goals are scored, not based on schedules.
This year’s fixture changes have also been granted to Kedah, Sarawak, UKM, Kelantan, Sabah, PKNP, Selangor and Felda but people make noise when it involves JDT just because JDT are champions.
“Finally to be a successful football club, you have to be a powerhouse.
“You cannot be a museum.”