Latest news with #2025-2026SuperLeague
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Melaka FC struggles with team rhythm in Super League opener
MELAKA FC is still searching for their rhythm after a 1-1 draw against Penang FC in their 2025-2026 Super League opener at Hang Jebat Stadium. Head coach K. Devan acknowledged that the team's new foreign signings need time to gel with the revamped squad. He noted that the first-half performance lacked aggression, allowing Penang FC too much attacking space. Defensive lapses and ineffective counterattacks also contributed to the opponents creating chances. 'In the first half, we could have played better but were less aggressive and gave Penang FC too much space,' Devan said. He added that communication issues with the Brazilian players and inexperience in the Super League were key factors. Most local players in the squad came from the A1 League, adding to the adjustment challenges. Penang FC took the lead in the 28th minute through Dylan Christopher Charles Wenzek Halls' header. Melaka FC equalised in the 69th minute thanks to Brazilian striker Juan Douglas Teles Da Silva. Devan pointed out that the team lacked an on-field leader, a problem he hopes to resolve soon. Despite improvements in the second half, he stressed the need to build confidence and adapt to his tactics. 'They have only trained together for less than a month,' Devan said. The two teams will face off again this Sunday in the FA Cup round of 16 at Hang Jebat Stadium. Devan emphasised the importance of winning at home to stay competitive. Penang FC coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail admitted his team is improving but needs to address weaknesses. 'We need our first win in either the Super League or FA Cup to boost morale,' he said. The upcoming FA Cup match will test both teams' ability to adjust their strategies. - Bernama
Barnama
6 days ago
- Sport
- Barnama
Melaka FC Grapple To Find Rhythm - K. Devan
MELAKA, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Melaka FC is still looking for their rhythm after the opening match of the 2025-2026 Super League ended in a 1-1 draw against Penang FC at Hang Jebat Stadium, Krubong here, last night. Head coach K. Devan admitted that their import players needed time to build compatibility with the squad which was overhauled for this season. According to him, the first half was less aggressive with too much space given to Penang FC to attack, besides several of the opponent's chances were created due to defensive weaknesses and imperfect counterattacks. bootstrap slideshow "In the first half I saw this team could have played better but we were less aggressive, gave a lot of space to Penang FC and the players' compatibility was also still lacking besides we faced communication problems with the Brazilian players. "For me, experience was also a factor because all the imported players were playing in the Super League for the first time, compared to experienced opponents, while local players came mostly from A1 League," he said at a press conference after the match here last night. Earlier in the action, the visiting team took the lead in the 28th minute through a header by Dylan Christopher Charles Wenzek Halls before Brazilian import striker Juan Douglas Teles Da Silva equalised in the 69th minute for Melaka to tie Penang 1-1. Devan further commented that in the match he saw that Melaka FC still did not have a 'leader' on the field, and hoped that the problem could be resolved soon. The 64-year-old manager said that although the performance gap was seen to be improving in the second half, he saw the need to build team confidence and adapt to his tactics with the courage to win. 'They have only been together for less than a month and this weekend we will meet Penang FC again for the FA Cup and we have to win at home.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
2025-2026 A1 Semi-Pro League to feature 16 teams
THE 2025-2026 A1 Semi-Pro League competition will see 16 teams participating compared to 15 last season. The increase in the number of teams follows the Amateur Football League's (AFL) confirmation of the four more teams: Kedah Darul Aman FC (KDA FC), Guar Syed Alwi (GSA FC), FC Seoul Phoenix, and UM-Damansara United. AFL chairman Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi stated that KDA FC, GSA FC, and Seoul Phoenix were previously granted conditional approval and were required to fulfil several criteria and submit documents within the specified timeframe. He said the AFL also confirmed the participation of UM-Damansara United, which was previously placed on the waiting list along with Ipoh City FC. 'After going through the document review and criteria set just like other teams, UM- Damansara United was also confirmed to participate, bringing the total to 16 teams participating in the 2025-2026 A1 Semi Pro League. 'As for Ipoh City FC, the team has decided to withdraw from the competition,' he said in a statement today. Previously, the AFL announced that 12 teams had successfully confirmed their participation for the upcoming season. The teams are Armed Forces FC, Manjung City FC, Immigration FC II, Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) II, Selangor FC II, Kelantan WTS FC, Kedah FA, Machan FC, Kelantan Red Warriors FC, Bunga Raya FC, Malaysian University and the Perak Football Association (PAFA). For the record, Melaka FC was crowned champions last season, while Immigration FC came in second place, thus qualifying on merit for the 2025-2026 Super League.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Brunei club make return to M-League
KUALA LUMPUR: The Super League will see the return of Brunei club, DPMM FC, and the full enforcement of Financial Fair Play (FFP) next season. The Malaysian Football League (MFL), in a statement today, confirmed that DPMM, whose last appearance here was 2008, will compete as an invited club following Fifa's approval. This will bring the total number of teams in the Super League to 14. As part of the FFP regulations, Super League teams will now be subject to a salary cap — clubs cannot allocate more than 80 per cent of their total annual budget to salary payments. The MFL has also standardised squad sizes across the board, with each club limited to 30 registered players — a change from the previous limit of 34 for ACL Elite/ACL2 teams and 32 for others. In terms of foreign player registration, clubs can now list up to 15 foreign players, up from the previous limits of 12 (for ACL/ACL2 participants) and nine (for other teams). The on-field foreign player quota has been revised to seven plus two substitutes, with a composition of four Open, one Asia, and two Asean players. This replaced the previous format of six plus one substitute (four Open, one Asia, one ASEAN). To align with international calendars, the 2025-2026 Super League will kick off in early August this year, beginning with the Charity Match between Super League champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and runners-up Selangor. The first transfer window will run from June 9 to Aug 31, followed by a second window from Jan 5 to Feb 1, 2026. The FA Cup is scheduled for August this year, while both the MFL Challenge Cup and Malaysia Cup will commence in January 2026.
