KUALA LUMPUR: Inconsistent performances of all teams, including defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and last season’s FA Cup winners Kedah, looks to be an indication of an even more interesting Malaysia League (M-League) campaign which could continue to the end of the season.
As if there haven’t been enough shocks and upsets in the FA Cup, competition among the top five teams in the Super League is heating up, even though JDT are top of the League by four points.
Also garnering attention is competition between Pahang and Terengganu who are currently second and third respectively in the league standings, both on 11 points, hovering just a point above Perak and PKNS FC who are fourth and fifth respectively.
Even though JDT are top of the Super League, their current top, position does not guarantee that they will be able to successfully defend the title for the fifth year in a row following some mixed performances of late.
In fact, JDT owner, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim admitted that the Southern Tigers have been performing poorly after what they went through back in 2013.
“Based on the latest statistics, this year and 2013 are the worst. It does not matter even if JDT lose 10-0 or 20-0, whatever it is I will always be with JDT,” said Tunku Ismail in a statement released via the Johor Southern Tigers official Facebook page recently.
Other than this, former national coach Wan Jamak Wan Hassan admitted that competition in the Super League this season should be more interesting compared to the last, apart from predicting tough fights in upcoming matches until the end of the season.
He also did not discount the possibility of upset in the semi-finals of the FA Cup where Pahang take on Perak SEDC while PKNS FC square off against Selangor.
“This season is anything but boring, and even though the league is not even at the halfway marker, we have already seen teams who were once considered minnows such as Perak SEDC and PKNS FC rising to the occasion.
“For me, these two club sides do have a chance of winning their respective semi-final encounters based on their recent performances, especially in the quarter-finals, so it is not impossible for more upsets after this,” he said.