MSL Preview | Negri vs Terengganu

A tall order awaiting for Negri tomorrow

High-flying Terengganu is down in Paroi this weekend in the final round of the Malaysian Super League.

The Turtles, fresh from thumping Penang 4-1 on Tuesday is chasing the third place, along with Kedah and outsider Johor FC.

The reverse fixture this season in Kuala Trengganu saw the match suspended due to waterlogged pitch late into second half with the score tied at 1-1.

After a prolonged discussion between the officials, it was agreed that the match to be re-played 0-0 on the next day. Terengganu took home three points in the re-match from Manaf Mamat and Zairo Zailani’s strikes in each half.

Whilst Negri has been on a slippery slope since then, Ken Worden’s squad has grown from strength to strength.

Photo of the Week

Farizal Harun picks up the ball during Negri training today.

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Announcement

Postponement

FAM has again shocked local football fans when they decided to postpone all Super League matches apart from Selangor vs Pahang this weekend in order for everyone to celebrate the new Super League champion, Selangor FA.

This news came after they predictably bowed down to the commercial incentives to stage the second match against Manchester United one day before Round 25 of the Malaysian Super League.

Many teams were affected from the call-ups having their players unavailable and some even forced to field them for their crucial match, playing their third match in four days.

Selangor has never won the Super League Cup since its launch in 2004.

Friendly re-match | Malaysia 0 Manchester United 2

Rajagopal – time to ‘phone a friend’?

There were times I was struggling with myself and trying hard to remember that this is only a friendly re-match and one shouldn’t be really reading much into it. However, for a large period of the match I was kicking and shouting amuck as my frustration at our boys’ performance were getting a little too much to contain.

The condition in the stadium didn’t really help either. It was hot and humid despite occasional relief from the weak tropical evening breeze. On top of all that, I had to deal with seas of over-excited Manchester United fans. Although they were much smaller in number tonight in comparison to two days ago, they still manage to irk me as much as they did before.

Friendly | Malaysia XI vs Man United

Which side are you on?

Photocredit Chot touch.

Malaysia XI will again entertain Manchester United in an ad-hoc friendly match following the bombings of two luxury hotels in Jakarta.

The squad was due to stay at the attacked Ritz-Carlton Hotel but decided against travelling to the Indonesian capital due to ”paramount safety reason”. The club said it was “deeply disappointed at not being able to visit Indonesia” and shared their deepest thoughts to the victims of the blasts.

It was reported that the Indonesian Football Association would lose 5 millions USD from the tickets sales and corporate sponsorships.

Fans who have bought the tickets for Jakarta friendly could exchange theirs for tonight’s match at the ticket booths. However, there will be only 3000 tickets made available for the exchange.

Local fans who don’t want to miss this opportunity can obtain their tickets online via www.ticketpro.com.my.

Malaysia will be fielding from the same group of players available on last match as it was decided that additional call-ups would be impossible due to a short time-scale.

Youngsters like Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Amirul Hadi, Khayril Muhaimeen and Azmi Muslim would definite be hoping to be given more opportunity to test their skills against the English champion in this re-match.

N9futbol.com wishes Aidil, Zaquan and S. Kunalan the very best in tonight’s match and let’s just hope that the fans won’t be too confused on which side they should really be on.

International Friendly | Malaysia 2 Manchester United 3

Amri Yahya brace was not enough to hold United to a surprise draw

Photocredit Zoolkareems.

Three Negri Sembilan players, Zaquan Razak, Aidil Razak and S. Kunalan including two ex-Negri youngsters, Norhafiz Zamani and Nor Shahrul Idlan Talaha were on the team sheet in a friendly match between Malaysia and Manchester United this afternoon.

The match is the first instalment in the Red Devils’ Asian tour to prepare for their new season before the squad embarked for Jakarta, Seoul and China.

Manchester United squad is back in Kuala Lumpur for the first time since their cancelled trip two years ago in a match what was suppose to celebrate the 50 years independence of Malaysian federation due to the clash with the on-going AFC cup.

Despite almost 100% humidity and temperature soaring to high-30s degree Celsius, the 100k seating stadium was packed with Manchester United fans to see their idols.

This will certainly go down in Malaysian history as one of the highest attendance football match in the country-something that you will never see in our local stadiums let alone in other international matches.

Manchester United in their new home kit did not disappoint their fans and Football Association of Malaysia by fielding their strongest line up to face our young squad.