Latest news with #MalaysiaCup
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Great Scot! DPMM FC back in Super league and targeting top six finish
WITH a Scotsman in charge, Brunei club DPMM FC have promised fierce competition by boldly targeting a top-six finish in the 2025/2026 Super League season, which begins in August. DPMM FC general manager Md Ali Momin said discussions are underway to ensure the team, under the leadership of head coach James McAllister of Scotland, are well-prepared, including the signing of Malaysian footballers. He said so far, based on the plan, the club will register about seven imports and 15 Brunei players. 'With the agreement of the Malaysian Football League (MFL), Malaysian players can feature for Brunei (as local players), which is an advantage. 'There may be some key positions that we need to fill, perhaps two or three (Malaysian) players that we must secure,' he told a press conference after the signing ceremony of DPMM FC's participation agreement in the 2025-2028 Malaysia League (M-League) here today. Also present were MFL president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, MFL acting chief executive officer Mohd Shazli Shaik Mohd and FIFA (International Football Federation) Council member Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin. Md Ali said DPMM FC are excited to compete in the M-League which has a big brand and a large fan base in the country. 'We will try to compete with the likes of Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Selangor, maybe in the beginning we will struggle a little, because we have long left the M-League, (however) we will try to give fierce competition to all the clubs (in the league),' he said. As such, he hopes that the quality of players could be further improved and the bilateral relationship between the two countries strengthened through DPMM FC's participation in the M-League. Meanwhile, Mohd Shazli said that the participation of DPMM FC thus makes it a total of 14 clubs that will play in the 2025-2026 Super League season so far. 'For the MFL, the presence of DPMM FC is an added value to the M-League and all local fans are aware of the football history that Brunei has etched. '... certainly with Brunei's presence it will make the M-League more competitive and have more commercial value,' he said. The MFL was previously quoted as saying that DPMM FC would play as an invited club after receiving approval from FIFA. According to MFL, the club is no stranger to local football competitions and once participated in the Malaysia Cup in 1979 before joining the Semi-Pro League in 1989. The team also won the 1999 Malaysia Cup after beating Sarawak 2-1 at the Merdeka Stadium and finished third in the 2005-2006 Super League.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
DPMM FC back in Super league and targeting top six finish
WITH a Scotsman in charge, Brunei club DPMM FC have promised fierce competition by boldly targeting a top-six finish in the 2025/2026 Super League season, which begins in August. DPMM FC general manager Md Ali Momin said discussions are underway to ensure the team, under the leadership of head coach James McAllister of Scotland, are well-prepared, including the signing of Malaysian footballers. He said so far, based on the plan, the club will register about seven imports and 15 Brunei players. 'With the agreement of the Malaysian Football League (MFL), Malaysian players can feature for Brunei (as local players), which is an advantage. 'There may be some key positions that we need to fill, perhaps two or three (Malaysian) players that we must secure,' he told a press conference after the signing ceremony of DPMM FC's participation agreement in the 2025-2028 Malaysia League (M-League) here today. Also present were MFL president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, MFL acting chief executive officer Mohd Shazli Shaik Mohd and FIFA (International Football Federation) Council member Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin. Md Ali said DPMM FC are excited to compete in the M-League which has a big brand and a large fan base in the country. 'We will try to compete with the likes of Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Selangor, maybe in the beginning we will struggle a little, because we have long left the M-League, (however) we will try to give fierce competition to all the clubs (in the league),' he said. As such, he hopes that the quality of players could be further improved and the bilateral relationship between the two countries strengthened through DPMM FC's participation in the M-League. Meanwhile, Mohd Shazli said that the participation of DPMM FC thus makes it a total of 14 clubs that will play in the 2025-2026 Super League season so far. 'For the MFL, the presence of DPMM FC is an added value to the M-League and all local fans are aware of the football history that Brunei has etched. '... certainly with Brunei's presence it will make the M-League more competitive and have more commercial value,' he said. The MFL was previously quoted as saying that DPMM FC would play as an invited club after receiving approval from FIFA. According to MFL, the club is no stranger to local football competitions and once participated in the Malaysia Cup in 1979 before joining the Semi-Pro League in 1989. The team also won the 1999 Malaysia Cup after beating Sarawak 2-1 at the Merdeka Stadium and finished third in the 2005-2006 Super League.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Selangor FC were not scammed, just unlucky, says club official
KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor FC's underperforming imports during the 2024-25 M-League season have triggered accusations from fans that the club had fallen victim to scammers. However, technical committee chairman Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar has dismissed the claims, insisting the Red Giants were simply "unlucky". "We didn't get scammed, but we were unlucky. Other clubs have gone through the same thing. The players had good profiles, but when they came here, they failed to live up to expectations," he said. "We are now targeting younger foreign signings for the new season." Looking ahead to the 2025-26 campaign, Selangor are planning a major squad overhaul, having released a long list of local and foreign players, along with several members of the coaching staff, following the end of the league last month. Confirmed departures include Ronnie Fernandez, Ali Olwan, captain Safuwan Baharudin, Khairulazhan Khalid and Khuzaimie Piee. "We believe these players can't take Selangor any further. "We failed to win any major cups or make an impact in the Asian Champions League 2 (ACL2) last season. "It's time for a big change, especially with the foreigners. We need to find better imports," said Shahril. "We're looking for new foreign players, but we won't be filling the full quota of 15. That's for sure, as we need to assess our financial capabilities." Shahril admitted the upcoming season will be a monumental challenge. Besides the Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup, the Red Giants will also play in the ACL2 and the Asean Club Championship (ACC). Despite a congested fixture list, Selangor will not be appealing to the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for additional player registrations, with the current cap set at 34. "The number of players remains unchanged, so we just have to find better-quality players," he said. "This time, we're hoping luck is on our side. "Last season, we were unfortunate with so many injuries. I hope we can overcome that moving forward," Shahril added. Selangor finished runners-up in both the Super League and FA Cup, losing out to Johor Darul Ta'zim on both occasions last season. They crashed out in the Malaysia Cup round of 16 and failed to progress beyond the ACL2 group stage.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
The Cops will choose their hired guns carefully
KUALA LUMPUR: Police are in no hurry to rearm for the new M-League season. Though the new competition rules allow 15 foreign players, the Cops aren't going to max it. As it stands, they have to operate with a smaller war chest than most state-backed outfits. Police CEO ASP Hafiz Zainal Abidin said their squad composition will ultimately depend on the coach's requirements. "Player selection and foreign quota depend on the coach based on the needs on the field. Last season, we registered seven foreign players, but not all were fully utilised in matches. "What's important is we use the imports we have wisely. It's not about signing many, and ending up with no impact on the field. This is about squad management, not numbers. "We are currently evaluating several foreign players and will also retain some existing local players. "If we talk about budget, yes, we were somewhat affected last season. But we managed to get through it," he said. In the 2024-2025 season, Police finished ninth with 27 points from 24 matches in the Super League. They lost 3-0 to Malaysian University in the FA Cup, 4-2 on aggregate to Negri Sembilan in the Malaysia Cup and 7-0 on aggregate to Selangor in the Challenge Cup.
New Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
The Red Devils arrive to rock Bukit Jalil [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's favourite EPL club, Manchester United, are back here after 16 years. How does it feel to be at Bukit Jalil? Timesport's Farah Azharie and Faizal Salim take readers to the National Stadium. Fans from Limbang to Kajang and across Malaysia are turning the stadium into a sea of red in Manchester United's friendly match against the Asean All Stars. The organisers said a total of 62,000 tickets had been sold for the match until Tuesday, while Cheras District Police Chief ACP Aidil Bolhassan said about 70,000 fans were expected to attend the match. Excited fans start arriving at the stadium as early as 3pm. Despite the searing 33 degrees Celsius weather, it has done little to dampen the spirits of the fans who patiently wait at the stadium gates to open at 5pm. Farhan Izhar, 40, from Kajang, was a bachelor when he attended United's matches here in 2009. Now married with four children, he is watching the Red Devils again today. "I bring my family along because I want them to experience the atmosphere when United come to Malaysia," says Farhan, who is accompanied by his wife, Rubiena Awg Amin (41), and four children, Riffat (12), Raqeeb (10), Raneea (9) and Railene (6). Meanwhile as soon as friends Frederick Lalung (51), Roger Samuel Meripa (42) heard that United were coming to Malaysia, they immediately planned their travel from Limbang, Sarawak. "We are diehard United fans, no matter what the results are, we will always stand behind our club," says Frederick. As of 6.15pm, the talked about sea of red expected at the stadium is yet to materialise. Despite claims of 70,000 tickets sold earlier in the day, only a trickle of fans have arrived to take their seats. With pre-match rehearsals still in full swing and kickoff set for 8.45pm, fans appear to be arriving, typically, late. As the Manchester United stars arrive and make their way into the stadium, captain Bruno Fernandes and midfielder Manuel Ugarte look to be in high spirits. With wide smiles, they acknowledge the media gathered at the mixed zone. However, the rest of the United squad appear locked in their own worlds. Alejandro Garnacho walks through with oversized sunglasses and earphones. Asean All Stars captain Sergio Aguero is all smiles, greeting everyone along the route to the dressing room. As of 7.30pm, fans continue to pour into the stadium, with seats being rapidly taken up. In comparison, the Malaysia Cup final between Johor Darul Ta'zim and Sri Pahang last month drew a crowd of 56,000. Tickets for that match were priced from RM50 to RM200. Tickets for the Manchester United match today is from RM50 to RM1,500. Previous Next
