KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Indian Football Association (MIFA), who played in previous seasons with a shoe-string budget, have secured a ‘big name’ to finance their club for their debut Super League season next year.
Despite finishing third in the Premier League last season, Mifa were given the nod to play in next season’s top-tier competition, replacing Felcra FC who withdrew due to financial issues.
The sponsor is said to own a prominent football club in Europe but Mifa will only reveal his identity in a press conference next week. The club will also be renamed as PJ City and the Petaling Jaya Stadium in Kelana Jaya will be their home base for the new season.
Mifa president Datuk T Mohan declined to comment about the new sponsor and the club’s new name but confirmed that they will play their matches at the Kelana Jaya venue.
“We have new partners coming in, it’s going to be a new process and we are hoping to get things sorted out before the start of the new season (in February).
“We will launch the club’s new name and also introduce our sponsors next week. We were previously funded by MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress) but with the change of government, they now cannot afford to do that.
“All I can say is that they (new partners) are into football and the Petaling Jaya Stadium will be our home venue,” he said.
However, all signs point to Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, who is the chief executive officer of AirAsia Group Bhd, being one of Mifa’s new investors as the low-cost airline company had invested RM4 million last year to refurbish the Petaling Jaya Stadium.
Mohan added that the team’s target next season is to win a title.
“With our new partners onboard, we hope to sign good players, both local and foreign. We have a good coach in K. Devan and I believe the club can win a title next season.
“Devan will finalise his players soon. We need a competitive team to play in the league,” he added.