MFL Challenge Cup explained

MFL Challenge Cup
Region:Malaysia
Number Of Teams:8
Current Champions:PDRM (1st title)
Most Successful Team:Terengganu II
Johor Darul Ta'zim II (1 title)
Broadcasters:Astro Arena
Current:2024 MFL Challenge Cup

The MFL Challenge Cup (Malay: Piala Cabaran MFL), formerly known as the Malaysia Challenge Cup, is a Malaysian football competition held under the auspices of the Malaysian Football League and the Football Association of Malaysia.

History

The tournament was created for the Malaysia Super League and the Malaysia Premier League teams that did not qualify for the Malaysia Cup tournament through their league standings. The idea was mooted by the Football Malaysia in December 2017 as a solution to increase the number of competitive games.[1] Observers such as FourFourTwo Malaysia see benefits of the Challenge Cup; as another chance of silverware for the competitors, maintaining the competitive edge between the participating teams, and as a way to analyze players in their teams in preparation for the next season.[2]

The inaugural tournament was held in 2018, with eight teams divided into 2 groups of four and playing a double round-robin system of games. The winners and runners-up of each group qualify to the knockout round on a home and away basis including the final. The tournament is held concurrently with the Malaysia Cup, with Challenge Cup games mostly played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday) as opposed to Malaysia Cup games played on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).[3] [4]

Selection of teams

For the 2018 edition, the team that finished last in the Malaysia Super League, and the sixth-placed to twelfth-placed teams in the Malaysia Premier League qualified for the tournament.[5] The selection of teams remained the same for 2019.

From 2020 until 2023 it was not held, mostly due to COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions.[6] [7] FAM announced the competition will return in 2023, featuring 8 teams who are eliminated in the last 16 of the 2023 Malaysia Cup.[8]

Results

Finals

List of MFL Challenge Cup finals!Year!Home team!Score!Away team!Venue!Attendance!Ref
2018align=left UKM FC2–2align=left Terengganu IIalign=left Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam1,485[9]
align=left Terengganu II2–0align=left UKM FCalign=left Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium,Kuala Terengganu3,800[10]
Terengganu II won 4–2 on aggregate
2019align=left Johor Darul Ta'zim II1–0align=left UKM FCalign=left Pasir Gudang Corporation Stadium,Pasir Gudang4,830[11]
align=left UKM FC1–0align=left Johor Darul Ta'zim IIalign=left Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Cheras1,778[12]
Aggregate 1–1, Johor Darul Ta'zim II won on penalties
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
2021
2022Not held
2023align=left PDRM3–0align=left Kuching Cityalign=left Petaling Jaya Stadium, Petaling Jaya955[13]
align=left Kuching City1–1 align=left PDRMalign=left Sarawak State Stadium, Kuching2,000[14]
PDRM won 4–1 on aggregate

Statistics

TeamWinnersRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up
scope=rowTerengganu II102018
scope=rowJohor Darul Ta'zim II102019
scope=rowPDRM102023
scope=rowUKM FC022018, 2019
scope=rowKuching City012023

Awards

Top scorers

YearPlayerGoalsTeam
2018 Michael Chukwubunna Ijezie13UKM
2019 Mateo Roskam6UKM
Milad Zanidpour
2023 Uche Agba5PDRM

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FMLLP organise Challenge Cup remedy. Goal.com. 4 September 2018.
  2. Web site: Challenge Cup a chance Premier League redemption silverware. FourFourTwo.com. 4 September 2018.
  3. Web site: Malaysia Challenge Cup 2018. Goal.com. 4 September 2018.
  4. Web site: Malaysia Cup slot for Challenge Cup champions in future. Stadium Astro. 4 September 2018.
  5. Web site: Eight teams play Challenge Trophy. NST.com. 4 September 2018.
  6. Web site: Save the Malaysia Cup from becoming 'painful' . . 2020-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220928220307/https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2020/05/590228/save-malaysia-cup-becoming-painful . 2022-09-28 . live . Singh . Ajitpal.
  7. Web site: 2021 Challenge Cup cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic, says MFL CEO . 14 September 2021 .
  8. News: . Thrilling affair in store after vital changes to M-League calendar . 30 January 2023 . www.thesundaily.my . 26 January 2023 . en-MY.
  9. Web site: FAM - CMS . 2023-12-04 . cms.fam.org.my.
  10. Web site: FAM - CMS . 2023-12-04 . cms.fam.org.my.
  11. Web site: FAM - CMS . 2023-12-04 . cms.fam.org.my.
  12. Web site: FAM - CMS . 2023-12-04 . cms.fam.org.my.
  13. Web site: FAM - CMS . 2023-12-04 . cms.fam.org.my.
  14. Web site: FAM - CMS . 2023-12-04 . cms.fam.org.my.