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Brazilian Bergson couldn't equal Indra Putra's goals record | New Straits Times
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Cklamovski tries to build a fearsome Harimau identity
KUALA LUMPUR: Peter Cklamovski believes Harimau Malaya's football identity is taking shape, and the national coach wants them to show their real stripes in an Asian Cup qualifier in June against Southeast Asian powerhouse Vietnam, whom they haven't beaten in over a decade. Malaysia's last success over Vietnam came in the 2014 AFF Cup semi-final, where they edged the Golden Star Warriors 5-4 on aggregate.
JDT II win MFL Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim II (JDT II) made history by winning their maiden MFL Cup with a 7-0 thrashing of Penang II at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Monday. Heading into the final round of the 2024-2025 season, JDT II led Selangor II by just a point, 50 to 49. Despite Selangor II also winning their match 7-0 against Kedah B, it was not enough to overtake the Southern Tigers in the standings.
JDT's Bergson breaks Super League's single-season scoring record
KUALA LUMPUR: Bergson da Silva has rewritten Super League history yet again — and he's not done yet. The Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) forward became the first player in Super League history to score more than 30 goals in a single season after firing five past Kelantan Darul Naim in a 9-0 demolition at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Thursday. "I don't feel anything new, but I'm thrilled.
High five for Bergson as JDT crush Kelantan DN 9-0
KUALA LUMPUR: Bergson Da Silva moved within striking range of Indra Putra Mahayuddin's all-time Super League goal record after scoring five in Johor Darul Ta'zim's (JDT) 9-0 rout of Kelantan Darul Naim on Thursday. The Brazilian now has 103 goals in just 83 appearances for JDT, according to Transfermarkt, needing only three more to match Indra's 106.
Fergus Tierney: JDT's facilities put Malaysian football on par with Scotland's best
KUALA LUMPUR: The Scottish-born footballer, Fergus Tierney, sees Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) capable of competing with the best clubs in the Scottish Premiership. Tierney, who plays for the SouthernTigers, said: "I think JDT would be a top three team in Scotland. "At home, JDT could give everyone in the Scottish Premiership a game, except for maybe Celtic and Rangers. JDT are the only Malaysian side that could compete at this level - the others are too far behind," Tierney told sports portal Sprung.
Portuguese football legend Quaresma coming to Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma, who won Euro 2016 alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, will make a special appearance at the All Star Kedah vs All Star Malaysia friendly at the Darul Aman Stadium on April 11. Kedah FC today described Quaresma's presence as a historic moment for the club. Kedah FC owner Tan Sri Dr Mohd Daud Bakar said although Quaresma had retired, he has remained active in friendlies and charity events.
Malaysia move up one spot in latest Fifa rankings
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia climbed one rung in the latest Fifa world rankings released today, moving up to 131st position from 132nd in the previous update on Dec 19, 2024. The slight jump was fueled by Harimau Malaya's 2-0 win over Nepal in their Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Group F clash on March 25 at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. The result helped Malaysia gain crucial points to boost their standing, with Fifa's official website listing them at 1123.57 points as of April 3, 2025.
Fifa welcomes back Faisal Halim
KUALA LUMPUR: World football federation Fifa has welcomed back Malaysia's acid attack victim Faisal Halim. Fifa's message was posted on its World Cup's social media page on Wednesday, celebrating the return of the winger to the national team. The post featured several pictures of Faisal in action during his first competitive match against Nepal since his last appearance for Malaysia against Oman in a World Cup qualifier on March 26 last year.
Football star among victims of Putra Heights fire
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national Under-19 footballer Nazrin Nasir was among the victims of a devastating gas explosion in Putra Heights on Tuesday. The tragedy left Nazrin injured and displaced, with his home destroyed in the inferno. He is currently under medical monitoring while staying at a temporary evacuation centre with his family. Nazrin, now playing for KL Passion FC, took to Instagram Story to share images of his burnt home. "Thank you for all the prayers," he wrote.
FAM new chief: We cannot deny that there have been mistakes...
— with graphic in jpeg form KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Joehari Ayub must be feeling like a plumber who had just entered a house full of leaks. Joehari, who became FA of Malaysia (FAM) president just over a month ago, admitted that he had a lot of things to fix. He is the first person from Borneo to helm FAM since the national association was formed 99 years ago. In an interview with Timesport, Joehari conceded that Malaysian football faces deep-rooted problems.
Errant clubs using loophole to get licences
KUALA LUMPUR: Why are errant clubs still getting a licence to play in the M-League even though they have not been paying salaries? That is because they are exploiting a loophole, said football legal adviser Zhafri Aminurashid. The M-League, beset with reports of unpaid wages in recent years, is now said to have come across licensing irregularities and even document falsification by a team. Yet, the powers-that-be seem not too concerned about the problems.
Himalayan men aim high against Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR: The men from the Himalayas will not keep a low profile in today's Asian Cup qualifier against Harimau Malaya at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. In fact Nepal head coach Matt Ross believes that his team can compete at the highest level of Asian football, and their target is to beat Malaysia in an Asian Cup qualifier.
MFL Cup dropped from the M-League
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has kicked out the MFL Cup. The decision to abolish the Under-23 competition was made during a meeting with 13 Super League clubs last Wednesday following concerns over the financial strain faced by participating teams. Introduced in 2023, the MFL Cup was to promote youth development with clubs required to field an Under-23 squad as part of the licensing criteria. However, after two seasons, M-League clubs found the financial burden unsustainable.
Brazilian physiotherapist says Kedah FC owe him money
KUALA LUMPUR: One by one, they have been telling their sad stories — how Kedah FC owe them money. Players and team officials have cried foul over unpaid salaries in recent months. Yesterday, the team's former performance analyst, Hazwan Nizam Fazil said Kedah FC failed to pay him for nearly eight months. And today, Brazilian physiotherapist Helber Richard said he is still owed eight months of unpaid wages by Kedah FC.
Critic: Be prepared for unexpected results in Asian Cup Qualifier
AS Malaysia face Nepal in an Asian Cup qualifier at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Tuesday under new head coach Peter Cklamovski, football critic Sadek Mustaffa believes that the Australian's approach will differ from his South Korean predecessor, Kim Pan Gon, particularly in terms of tactical play. "We can definitely see the European style of football in the way the team prepare. "But when it comes to game plan, it's different.
Analyst sees JDT shifting to Spanish football
KUALA LUMPUR: Spanish football legend Luis Garcia's appointment as Johor Darul Ta'zim's (JDT) new Chief Executive Officer marks a significant shift for the Malaysian powerhouse, said sports observer Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli. Pekan believes Garcia's arrival is not just about management, but also about leveraging his vast network in European football to bring in top talent and realise the Southern Tigers' ambitions.
Nepal aim to nail Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR: Nepal's confidence must be as high as Mount Everest after their historic win over Singapore, and that spells trouble for Malaysia. Nepal, who will meet Malaysia in an Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday in Johor, are brimming with confidence after stunning Singapore 1-0 in an international friendly on Friday. World No. 175 Nepal showed that they could play a good tactical game against world No. 160 Singapore as they tamed the Lions at their own den, and silenced the Kallang roar.
Lukaku needs 3 more goals to match Super Mokh's record
KUALA LUMPUR: Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku is on the verge of equalling the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari's international goal tally. Lukaku needs just three more to match the Malaysian icon's 89-goal record. The Napoli forward is Belgium's all-time leading scorer with 86 goals. "I know what I have achieved, but I always want more," Lukaku once said about his international career. Lukaku, 32, played a crucial role in Belgium's Golden Generation, helping them reach the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
Natxo's absence answered
KUALA LUMPUR: For fans asking where is Natxo Insa, the answer was given by national team head Peter Cklamovski today. Natxo is on an individual rehab plan, said Cklamovski. Midfielder Natxo has been missing from national training as Harimau Malaya prepare for the Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal on Tuesday. "He hasn't trained with us. He's on an individual rehab plan, and we'll make a decision later if he can join team training," said Cklamovski.
A Malaysian sports analyst has fallen on hard times
KUALA LUMPUR: Hazwan Nizam Fazil used to earn RM7,500 a month as a football analyst for Kedah. Now, he earns as little as RM50 a day. Once a much-sought after performance analyst in Malaysian sports, Hazwan never expected to end up in such a sad state. Hazwan built his career as a performance analyst with top teams in the country, including Perak FC, the national rugby team and the national sepak takraw squad. His expertise was in data-driven performance analysis.
FAM to plants seeds for future success
KUALA LUMPUR: The critics always say that the FA of Malaysia (FAM) has neglected grassroots development, especially when the national team are not doing well. And this will be the main focus of new FAM president Datuk Joehari Ayub. Joehari said he is relooking the country's football development overall with an emphasis on the game at grassroots-level. "We want to start from the basics.
Spanish legend Luis Garcia is new CEO of JDT
KUALA LUMPUR Spanish football legend Luis Garcia was officially named Johor Darul Ta'zim's (JDT) Chief Executive Officer after signing with club owner Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim in Johor Baru today. "JDT have appointed UEFA Champions League winner and former Spanish international Luis Garcia as CEO effective April 1, 2025 following a structuring to strengthen and maximise the expertise of the club management," the club announced.
Cklamovski sees only 'Malaysians' in his team
KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya, it is said, are a team of many different stripes following the inclusion of many foreign-born players. So, you have local players, heritage players and naturalised players. But to national team head coach Peter Cklamovski, they all appear the same when they wear the Malaysia shirt. The Australian said all of them are Malaysians who deserve equal recognition. "I'm getting a briefing about this because they are Malaysians abroad - that's how I think about it.
Joehari dismisses talk that FAM no longer in charge of Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR: FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Joehari Ayub has denied speculation that the national football team were no longer part of the governing body. He said today Harimau Malaya remain under FAM. Talk of the national team operating independently had emerged following perceptions that Harimau Malaya were being run separately, especially with the involvement of Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim in supporting the squad's development.
Nasi lemak tease from former Liverpool star
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Malaysia Cup final rescheduled to April 26
KUALA LUMPUR The Malaysia Cup final between Johor Darul Ta'zim and Sri Pahang at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil has been rescheduled to April 26 from April 12. This came about following an official request from Sri Pahang and a mutual agreement with JDT.
Harimau Malaya unveil two more foreign-born players
KUALA LUMPUR: A Dutch-born player and a Spanish-born player have added more colours to Harimau Malaya stripes. Heritage players Hector Hevel and Gabriel Palmero have been announced as the latest additions to the national football team ahead of their Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Tuesday. Hevel, 29, has played across Europe, winning the Cypriot Cup and Super Cup with AEK Larnaca and helping FC Andorra secure promotion to the Spanish Segunda División.
Press, attack, dominate — Cklamovski's game plan for Harimau Malaya | New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: A new era officially began for Harimau Malaya as coach Peter Cklamovski led his first training session at the Seri Gelam field, Johor Darul Ta'zim's training centre, in Johor Baru on Monday. The Australian is eager to transform Malaysia into a high-intensity, attack-minded side with the right mentality. He is currently preparing his squad for their Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on March 25.
'Super' Safee's historic boots and jerseys up for grabs
KUALA LUMPUR: Safee Sali is parting with some of his most treasured football memorabilia, including the boots he wore in the 2010 AFF Cup final and several match-worn jerseys from key moments in his career. The former national striker announced on Facebook that he is auctioning off the boots that played a crucial role in Harimau Malaya's historic AFF Cup triumph against Indonesia at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Aidil: Kuching City proving they're no 'kampung boys'
KUALA LUMPUR: Jimmy Raymond struck late to fire Kuching City to a 2-1 victory over Selangor at the State Stadium on Sunday, lifting them to third in the Super League. Ramadhan Saifullah opened the scoring in the 27th minute of the rain-hit clash, but Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi pulled Selangor level six minutes after the restart. Jimmy then sealed the win in the 84th minute, Coach Aidil Sharin Sahak hailed his players' resilience, urging them to shake off their underdog mentality.
Kuching City stun Selangor to end 14-game unbeaten run
KUALA LUMPUR: Kuching City extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a 2-1 victory over Selangor at the State Stadium in Sarawak on Saturday, ending the Red Giants' 14-game unbeaten streak in the Super League. Playing in heavy rain, Ramadhan Saifullah put Kuching City ahead in the 27th minute, giving Aidil Sharin Sahak's side an early lead. Selangor struggled to break through but finally found an equaliser in the 51st minute through Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi.
'Sumareh and Insa deserve national call-ups'
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national footballer Hasnizam Uzir believes the latest Harimau Malaya squad are well-balanced, insisting that Mohamadou Sumareh and Natxo Insa remain relevant to the team. READ MORE : https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2025/03/1188715/football-critic-s... "Many have questioned Sumareh's selection, but for me, there's no issue. He trains at high intensity with Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), has international experience and a strong mentality.
'If Ronaldo can, why not Natxo Insa?'
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) owner Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has defended the selection of Natxo InsaNatxo Insa, insisting the veteran midfielder remains a key figure for Harimau Malaya. The Regent of Johor cited the 39-year-old's impressive statistics to justify his inclusion in Peter Cklamovski's 27-man squad for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal on March 25.
Football critic Sadek unimpressed by new Harimau Malaya list
KUALA LUMPUR: The usual suspects are around — in the supposedly new-look national football team. And sports critic Sadek Mustafa is not impressed. He raised concerns over the 27-man squad announced by national coach Peter Cklamovski on Friday, and questioned the continued reliance on senior players and the unending lack of opportunities for younger talentlack of opportunities for younger talent. "To me, there's not much of a choice within the squad.
Football critic slams Insa inclusion, calls Sumareh's selection a 'joke'
KUALA LUMPUR: The usual suspects are around — in the supposedly new-look national football team. And sports critic Sadek Mustaffa is not impressed. He raised concerns over the 27-man squad announced by national coach Peter Cklamovski on Friday, and questioned the continued reliance on senior players and the unending lack of opportunities for younger talentlack of opportunities for younger talent. "To me, there's not much of a choice within the squad.
Tunku Ismail says JDT winger Arif is free to decide his own course
Pls upload n highlight KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) club owner Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has made it clear that it is up to winger Arif Aiman Hanapi to decide his own future — stay with the Southern Tigers or pursue opportunities abroad. "That's up to Arif Aiman, not up to us. He wants to go, go. If he wants to stay, then stay. But I never force (him). I think he's happy here (at JDT)," said Tunku Mahkota Ismail.
Faisal grateful to be back in national team after acid attack
KUALA LUMPUR: Faisal Halim may have made headlines with a hat-trick for Selangor in the Super League last week, but it was the acid-attack victim's return to the national team that truly marked a significant moment in his football career. Nearly a year after surviving the horrific attack by an unknown man last May, Faisal is set to don the Harimau Malaya jersey again, embracing what he calls a "fresh start." "I am grateful to be back in the national team since the incident.
Portimonense's Serrano to join Harimau Malaya?
KUALA LUMPUR: Portuguese club Portimonense FC have revealed that one of their players will don the Malaysia jersey. The player concerned is said to be 29-year-old Dutch-born midfielder Hector Hevel Serrano. In a social media post, Portimonense congratulated three of their footballers for receiving national call-ups for the March 17-25 Fifa window. "Called-up.
Chong Wei, Williams, Cahill, Khabib to shape Johor's youth programmes
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor is making waves in grassroots sports development with a star-studded cast of global sporting icons set to play key roles in youth programmes. Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) club owner Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim revealed that the state will welcome some of the biggest names in world sport to inspire and guide young athletes.
Kedah FC refute M-League exit claims, vow to fight on
KUALA LUMPUR: Kedah FC have dismissed speculation that they will withdraw from next season's M-League, assuring fans that the club are working to meet licensing requirements. Club owner Tan Sri Dr Daud Bakar issued a statement on Thursday, clarifying that no decision to withdraw had been made.
Cklamovski: M-League falls short in tempo, match minutes
KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya coach Peter Cklamovski has raised concerns over the state of the Malaysian league, saying it lags behind regional rivals Vietnam and Thailand in tempo, match minutes and overall quality. "My thoughts on the M-League? The truth? We need to improve," he said after announcing his 27-man squad for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on March 25. "I think we all know the league can get better.
Faisal Halim returns to Harimau Malaya after acid attack nightmare
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Harimau Malaya to host Nepal at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Asian Cup qualifier
KUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) has confirmed that Harimau Malaya's Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal will be played at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, on March 25. The match, kicking off at 10pm, was originally set to take place in Nepal, but the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) requested a venue swap due to ongoing maintenance at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. As part of the agreement, the return fixture on Nov 18 will now be played in Nepal.
Kedah, Sri Pahang 'won't be around next season', JDT boss drops bombshell
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian football is on the brink of losing two historic clubs, with Kedah and Sri Pahang reportedly set to shut down ahead of the 2025-2026 M-League season. Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) owner Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim revealed the shocking news during a Q&A session with fans at the club's newly built cafeteria on Wednesday night. The Regent of Johor described JDT's upcoming Malaysia Cup final against Sri Pahang as an emotional affair, calling it a farewell to an old friend.
Football fans frustrated by FAM's waiting game
KUALA LUMPUR: While fans grow impatient, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) plays the waiting game. FAM was to announce the new national training squad today, but decided to postponed it to another day. But the fans are not amused. FAM has already started selling tickets for the Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal on March 25 when the fans don't even know who their "own actors" are. "How do you expect us to fill the stadium if we don't even know who's playing?" said Qursya Iman, a fan, on social media.
JDT aim for Asian elite status
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian football giants Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) will play the biggest match of their season tomorrow. But it's not a cup final, it's not a decisive league title-clinching match. Yet, the match against Buriram United is the one that can define JDT's season — their ultimate goal of excelling at continental level. JDT need to beat the Thai club in the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) round of 16 return leg at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
'Avoid late signing of foreign players'
KUALA LUMPUR: Often, M-League coaches ended up feeling that they had brought the wrong foreign players. That's mainly because of their haphazard manner in getting foreign signings. Fifa-licensed agent Dr Faidauz Azhar has urged local clubs to avoid late signing of players. "Clubs must start doing their homework months in advance, not just scramble at the last minute. "There's a lack of proper scouting, which results in poor foreign signings.
Acid attack victim Faisal Halim scores emotional hat-trick
KUALA LUMPUR: Faisal Halim, who suffered horrific injuries inflicted by an unknown assailant last year, scored an emotional hat-trick as Selangor routed Kelantan Darul Naim 7-0 at the MBPJ Stadium on Saturday. The winger's outstanding performance against Kelantan was a good sign of his efforts to get back to the top of his game. Faisal's wife, Nur Syazwani Mizuana Shahril, who was in the stands, wrote on social media: "Alhamdulillah, daddy. Allah is always with us ups and downs, smiles and tears.
Why the delay, Cklamovski? Harimau Malaya squad still a mystery
KUALA LUMPUR: While Nepal — Harimau Malaya's opening opponents in the Asian Cup qualifiers — have already started training, national coach Peter Cklamovski has yet to announce his squad, with the official list only expected on Monday (March 10). The delay has raised eyebrows, with some believing it could affect preparations, especially as the match on March 25 falls during Ramadan.
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