2018 Malaysia Premier League Explained

Season:2018
Competition:100Plus Malaysia Premier League
Dates:1 February – 27 July 2018
Winners:Felda United
2nd Second Division title
Promoted:Felda United
Felcra
Relegated:Terengganu II
Matches:110
Total Goals:325
League Topscorer:Casagrande
(19 goals)
Biggest Home Win:Sabah 4–0 Terengganu II








Biggest Away Win:PDRM 2–6 Felda United
(6 February 2018)
Highest Scoring:8 goals
PDRM 2–6 Felda United
(6 February 2018)
Longest Wins:7 matches
Felda United
Longest Unbeaten:12 matches
Felcra
Longest Winless:8 matches
Johor Darul Ta'zim II
Longest Losses:4 matches
UKM
Prevseason:2017
Nextseason:2019
Updated:27 July 2018

The 2018 Malaysia Premier League, known as 2018 100Plus Malaysia Premier League for sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 15th season of the Malaysia Premier League, the second-tier professional football league in Malaysia since its establishment in 2004.

Team changes

A total of 12 teams contested the league, including 6 sides from the 2017 season, four relegated from the 2017 Malaysia Super League and four promoted from the 2017 Malaysia FAM League.

To Premier League

Promoted from FAM League[2]

Relegated from Super League[3] [4]

From Premier League

Promoted to Super League[5]

Relegated to FAM League[6]

Notes:

Originally Sime Darby were promoted along with UKM as finalists of the 2017 Malaysia FAM League final, but after Sime Darby announced their withdrawal from the Premier League participation, Felcra, the next highest team in the FAM League table, were invited as replacement.[7]

FELDA United were relegated to Premier League after failing to receive the FAM License to compete in the Super League; while T-Team were relegated to Premier League after their absorption to Terengganu, rebranding as Terengganu II and change of their status as reserve team to Terengganu. Negeri Sembilan and PKNP, 2 highest teams in the Premier League with FAM License, were promoted to Super League in their place.[8]

Disbandment of Kuantan FA

After failing to settle bad debt with former players for last season campaign,[9] 4 months failing to pay current team wages.[10] and unable to turn up for a league fixture against PDRM,[11] FMLLP decided to disqualify Kuantan from the rest of the campaign.[12] Because of their disqualification, all points that were won by other teams against Kuantan will not count and the league was left with 11 teams out of initial 12 with teams that were due to play Kuantan were given a bye week. It is the first time this has ever occurred in the professional level of Malaysian football where a team is disallowed to compete after breaking the rules and regulations with the season on-going.

Kuantan stated that Marcerra (the team that bought their license) wanted to take over the bad debts amounted to RM 3.5 million and clear all the overdue payment from last season.[13] But it seemed fruitless as after 4 months into the league campaign, the problem was still unsettled as the current squad players decided to leave the team[14] and opted to join teams in the FAM league. Kuantan were awarded RM 500,000 annual grant but minus RM 200,000 for fined after failing to complete their registration papers.[15]

Stadium and locations

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
FelcraShah AlamShah Alam Stadium80,372
Felda UnitedJengkaTun Abdul Razak Stadium25,000[16]
Johor Darul Ta'zim IIPasir GudangPasir Gudang Corporation Stadium15,000[17]
MIFAPetaling JayaPetaling Jaya Stadium25,000[18]
PDRMShah AlamShah Alam Stadium80,372
PenangBatu KawanPenang State Stadium40,000[19]
SabahKota KinabaluLikas Stadium35,000[20]
SarawakKuchingSarawak State Stadium26,000[21]
Terengganu IIKuala TerengganuSultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium15,000
UiTMShah AlamUiTM Stadium10,000[22]
UKMSelayangSelayang Stadium11,098

Personnel and sponsoring

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor(s)
Felcra Tarcísio Pugliese[23] UhlsportFELCRA, HeMAT
Felda United B. Sathianathan[24] Shukor AdanFELDA, Hotel Tenera
Johor Darul Ta'zim II Benjamin Mora[25] Shakir ShaariNike
MIFA K. Devan[26] MIFA, MAHSA University
PDRM Zulhamizan Zakaria[27] Fauzi MajidLine 7ODR Lubricants
Penang Zainal Abidin[28] Azrul AhmadPuma
Sabah Jelius Ating[29] Rawilson BatuilCarinoSawit Kinabalu, Sabah Energy Corp, Asian Supply Base
Sarawak Ian Gillan[30] Hairol MokhtarStarsport
Terengganu II Mustaffa Kamal[31] Hasbullah Awang[32] Kobert
UiTM Wan Mustaffa Wan Ismail[33] Afif Asyraf PumaSoaring Upwards, UiTM Holdings
UKM Sulaiman Husin[34] Asnan AhmadSkyHawkKopi Pak Belalang, Fusionex

Coaching changes

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of
appointment
Terengganu II Rahmad DarmawanResigned23 November 2017Pre-season Mustaffa Kamal27 November 2017
PDRM Fauzi PilusEnd of contract31 October 2017 Zulhamizan Zakaria28 November 2017
Sarawak Pengiran BalaEnd of caretaker role1 December 2017 Ian Gillan2 December 2017
MIFA Jacob JosephEnd of contract31 October 2017 K. Devan3 December 2017
Felcra Rosle Md. DerusReassigned as assistant coach22 December 2017 Tarcísio Pugliese22 December 2017
Kuantan Zulhamizan ZakariaResigned28 November 2017 Ismail Zakaria1 December 2017
PDRM Zulhamizan ZakariaEnd of contract31 July 20185th Fauzi Pilus1 August 2018
Johor Darul Ta'zim II Benjamin MoraPromoted to JDT I10 August 20184th11 August 2018

Foreign players

The number of foreign players is restricted to four each team including at least one player from the AFC country.

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3AFC playerFormer player
Felcra Léo Carioca Endrick Casagrande David Laly[35]
Felda United Thiago Junio[36] Gilberto Fortunato Thiago Fernandes[37] Iain Ramsay
Johor Darul Ta'zim II Bruno Soares[38] [39] Nicolás Fernández Harry Novillo Hafiz Sujad[40]
Murilo Damasceno
Lucas Ontivero
MIFA Elizeu Kpah Sherman[41] L'Imam Seydi Bae Beom-geun
PDRM Argzim Redžović[42] Shim Un-seob[43] Petrisor Voinea[44] Shunsuke Nakatake[45]
Penang Ugo Ukah[46] Sanna Nyassi[47] Chidi Edeh Kang Seung-jo[48] Ken Ilsø[49] [50]
Sabah Francis Kasonde[51] Rodoljub Paunović Pito Ramos[52] Keisuke Ogawa Heo Jae-nyeong
Lee Kil-Hoon
Sarawak Nebojsa Marinkovic Mateo Roskam Miloš Raičković Kim Chi-gon
Terengganu II Andrew Jean-Baptiste[53] Sébastien Thurière[54] Akanni-Sunday Wasiu[55] Bruno Suzuki Lee Jun-hyeob[56]
UiTM Mamadou Danso Venyamin Shumeyko Okereke Timothy Noh Sang-min Kota Kawase
Lucas Pugh[57]
Dechi Marcel
Dao Bakary
UKM Waheed Oseni Michael Ijezie Nam Se-in[58] Atuheire Kipson[59]
  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
  • Foreign players who left their clubs or were de-registered from playing squad due to medical issues or other matters.

Naturalisation

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

TeamPlayer 1Player 2
Felda United Stuart Wark Curran Singh Ferns
Johor Darul Ta'zim II Samuel Somerville Ernest Wong
Sarawak Shazalee Ramlee

Notes:

Carrying Malaysian heritage.

Participated in the Malaysia national team squad.

Results

League table

Positions by round

Season statistics

Top scorers

[60] Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name.

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 CasagrandeFelcra19
2 Bobby GonzalesSarawak14
Hector RamosSabah
Kpah ShermanMIFA
Thiago FernandesFelda United
6 Akanni-Sunday WasiuTerengganu II12
7 Gilberto FortunatoFelda United10
8 Mateo RoskamSarawak9
Gilberto FortunatoFelda United12
Kpah ShermanMIFA3 Žarko KoraćKuantan5
PitoSabah
Mateo RoskamSarawak
Lucas PughUiTM
7 Kpah ShermanMISC-MIFA4
Bobby GonzalesSarawak
Dao BakaryUiTM
Nam Se-inUKM
11 Wan Zack HaikalFelda United3
Thiago FernandesFelda United
Ken IlsøPenang
Akanni-Sunday WasiuTerengganu II

Top assists

Players sorted first by assists, then by last name.

RankPlayerClubAssists
align=center rowspan=21 EndrickFelcraalign=center rowspan=210
Nicolás FernándezJohor Darul Ta'zim II
align=center rowspan=13 Iain RamsayFelda Unitedalign=center rowspan=19
align=center rowspan=14 Bae Beom-geunMIFAalign=center rowspan=18
align=center rowspan=15 Maxsius MusaSabahalign=center rowspan=17

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
6–2 (A)
Casagrande3–2 (A)
Žarko Korać4–0 (H)
Casagrande3–1 (H)

Notes:
(H) – Home ; (A) – Away

Own goals

Rank Player For Against Date Goals
1 Daudsu Jamaluddin1
Fazly Mazlan1
Andrew Jean-Baptiste1

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1 Farizal HarunFelda United5
Muhaimin MohamadMIFA
Sheril AnuarPDRM
4 Soffuan TawilUiTM4
5 Suhaimi HusinTerengganu II3
Rozaimie RohimSabah
7 Robson Rendy RiningSabah2
8 Iqbal SuhaimiSarawak1
Abdul Gafur SamsudinUKM

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Malaysia Super League gets title sponsor in RM480 million deal Goal.com. 6 February 2018. en.
  2. News: FAM League Recap: Sime Darby, UKM secure promotion. 9 October 2017. Stadium Astro. 5 November 2017.
  3. News: Sarawak face up to relegation, hoping for quick return to MSL. 1 November 2017. ESPN FC. 5 November 2017.
  4. News: Penang relegated as JDT celebrate MSL title by thrashing Kelantan. 20 September 2017. ESPN FC. 5 November 2017.
  5. News: Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu gain promotion to Super League next season. 27 September 2017. Malay Mail Online. 5 November 2017.
  6. News: KL champions but ATM and Perlis wave goodbye to Premier League. 28 September 2017. Goal.com. 5 November 2017.
  7. Web site: FAM nominates Felcra FC to take Sime Darby FC's spot in Premier League - Goal.com. goal.com. 29 January 2018.
  8. Web site: Negeri Sembilan FA, PKNP FC to replace T-Team FC, Felda United FC in 2018 Malaysia Super League - Goal.com. goal.com. 29 January 2018.
  9. Web site: Kuantan FA told to pay 6 players RM145,000 in salary arrears | the Malaysian Insight.
  10. Web site: 'Ini aksi terakhir Marcerra Kuantan FA'. 5 April 2018.
  11. Web site: Kuantan FA staring at heavy punishment for going AWOL Goal.com.
  12. Web site: Kuantan FA sah digugurkan Astro Awani. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180421130538/http://www.astroawani.com/berita-sukan/kuantan-fa-sah-digugurkan-173493. 2018-04-21.
  13. Web site: Marcerra Kuantan FA akhirnya buka mulut . 21 February 2018 .
  14. Web site: Tiga pemain Kuantan FA angkat kaki Astro Awani. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180322124241/http://www.astroawani.com/berita-sukan/tiga-pemain-kuantan-fa-angkat-kaki-171123. 2018-03-22.
  15. Web site: Fox Sports. 2018-04-27. 2018-06-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20180623062021/http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/863888/coach-ismail-zakaria-reveals-hardships-kuantan-fas-salary-embarassment/. dead.
  16. News: Stadium Felda Lonjak Mutu Sukan. 15 May 2014. Felda Voice. 2 November 2017. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112123/http://www.feldavoice.com/2014/05/15/stadium-felda-lonjak-mutu-sukan/. dead.
  17. News: FAM League Recap: Sime Darby, UKM secure promotion. Sports247.my. 5 November 2017.
  18. News: Stadium MBPJ. TimeOut. 5 November 2017.
  19. News: Penang State Stadium, Batu Kawan. Seberang Perai Municipal Council. 5 November 2017.
  20. News: Sejarah SAFA. The Tambadau. 5 November 2017.
  21. News: Stadium Sarawak. Sarawak Sports Corporation. 5 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015031/http://www.ssc.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/pages.php?mod=webpage&sub=page&id=59&menu_id=0&sub_id=83. 7 November 2017. dead.
  22. News: UiTM Stadium. InfoMap24. 5 November 2017.
  23. Web site: Tarcísio Pugliesi kemudi Felcra FC musim 2018. Dunia Sukan. 22 December 2017. 24 December 2017.
  24. Web site: Felda coach accepts demotion. 4 December 2017. 15 December 2017. New Straits Times.
  25. Web site: JDT umum pelantikan jurulatih baharu. 18 January 2017. 15 December 2017. Sinar Harian.
  26. Web site: Devan pengendali baharu MIFA. 3 December 2017. 15 December 2017. Berita Harian.
  27. Web site: Zulhamizan dilantik pengendali baharu PDRM. 28 November 2017. 15 December 2017. Berita Harian.
  28. Web site: Zainal Abidin Hassan Dilantik Sebagai Jurulatih Baharu Pulau Pinang. 23 March 2017. Semuanya BOLA.
  29. Web site: Sabah counts on ex skipper Jelius to reverse Rhinos dwindling fortunes. 20 March 2017. 15 December 2017. Borneo Today.
  30. Web site: Sarawak umum Ian Andrew Gillan sebagai pengendali baharu. Stadium Astro. 2 December 2017. 15 December 2017.
  31. Web site: Mustafa Kamal ganti Rahmad. 27 November 2017. 15 December 2017. Berita Harian.
  32. Web site: Hasbullah teruja ketuai TFC II. 8 January 2018. 8 January 2018. Berita Harian.
  33. Web site: Belum temui pengganti Sunday, Dong-hyun. Karangkraf. 17 December 2017. 12 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180712214543/http://www.karangkraf.com/mobile/sukan/belum-temui-pengganti-sunday-dong-hyun-1.764251. dead.
  34. Web site: UKM FC guna tiga import. Berita Harian. 28 October 2017. 15 December 2017.
  35. Web site: David Laly ke Liga Malaysia (in Indonesia). FootballtribeIndonesia.. 11 January 2018. 11 January 2018.
  36. Web site: Behave like Super League class, Felda told. New Straits Times. 11 December 2017. 15 December 2017.
  37. Web site: Kuota Felda sudah penuh. 29 December 2017. 30 December 2017.
  38. Web site: WELCOME TO JDT FAMILY, BRUNO. 2017-12-24. 2017-12-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20171227120415/http://johorsoutherntigers.com.my/welcome-to-jdt-family-bruno/. dead.
  39. Web site: Bruno in JDT II unless emergency. 24 December 2017.
  40. Web site: Hafiz Sujad rejoins Tampines Rovers from Johor Darul Ta'zim II. Fox Sports Asia. 16 April 2018. 4 June 2018. 13 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180713045719/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/singapore-football/845991/hafiz-sujad-rejoins-tampines-rovers-from-jdt-ii/. dead.
  41. Web site: MISC MIFA kekalkan Sherman. Berita Harian. 13 December 2017. 2 January 2018.
  42. Web site: Pemain Montenegro perkasa The Cops(in Malay). Berita Harian. 11 January 2018. 11 January 2018.
  43. Web site: Dua slot import PDRM masih jadi rebutan. 19 December 2017. Stadium Astro. 19 December 2017.
  44. Web site: Voinea jadi taruhan The Cops. Berita Harian. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  45. Web site: PDRM ikat Nakatake. Berita Harian. 8 December 2017. 15 December 2017.
  46. Web site: Ugo Ukah sah sertai Pulau Pinang. BHarian. 6 January 2018. 13 January 2018.
  47. Web site: Pilih Import Pulau Pinang takut terkena lagi. Sinar Harian. 30 December 2017. 2 January 2017.
  48. Web site: Pulau Pinang sah ikat Seung Jo. BHarian. 13 January 2018. 13 January 2018.
  49. News: Mansor. Wan Mohd Noor Hafiz Wan. Bakal presiden faktor Ken Ilso ke Pulau Pinang. 6 February 2018.
  50. News: Anil. Nicolas. Tunisian Alaeddine Bouslimi joins Kelantan while Ken Ilso leaves Penang. 18 May 2018. 21 May 2018. 24 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180624050217/http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/malaysia-super-league/885414/kelantan-sign-alaeddine-bouslimi-ken-ilso-leaves-penang/. dead.
  51. Web site: Kasonde masuk, Cerina keluar. 10 February 2018. ms.
  52. Web site: Sabah ikat penggempur Puerto Rico (in Malay). 17 January 2018. 17 January 2018.
  53. Web site: Andrew lengkapkan empat import TFC II. 31 December 2017. 2 January 2018.
  54. Web site: Haiti international to signs for Terengganu FC II. 31 December 2017. 31 December 2017.
  55. Web site: Terengganu FC II ikat Wasiu. 7 December 2017. 15 December 2017. Berita Harian.
  56. Web site: Terengganu FC II secure the signing of Bruno Suzuki. Goal. 19 December 2017. 19 December 2017.
  57. News: Pemain import baru berwibawa pikul cabaran UiTM FC LIGA PERDANA MALAYSIA News Stadium Astro. 6 February 2018.
  58. Web site: UKM FC ambil pendekatan berbeza. 30 December 2017. 30 December 2017. Stadium Astro.
  59. Web site: Kipson senjata Baharu UKM FC. 17 January 2018.
  60. Web site: Senarai Penjaring gol Liga Premier 2018. LigaMalaysia.net. 16 April 2018.