This is where Malaysian football gets super exciting!
We’re three games away from the end of the current Malaysia Super League season, and we are no closer to having one single clear favourite for the league title. As it stands, Johor DT are the league leaders, and Pahang are merely one point behind them.
Mathematically, third-placed side Selangor are out of contention, meaning that this where is it ultimately boils down to a final battle between Pahang and Johor DT. Both of them have three games left, both of them have nine points to fight for. Though in this case, the pressure is undoubtedly on JDT.
Mario Gomez’s men are the defending champions in Malaysian football and their exponential expenditure has generated a certain degree of expectations within the Malaysian football fraternity as well. The Johor Crown Prince has consistently reiterated that their goals are mainly long-term, but a short-term one like retaining their league title, is still pretty much pivotal to their hopes of growing as a football club.
They now have a reputation to preserve; one that’s growing across Asia as well. Just last week, a television crew from Japan were down to document the progress JDT have made over the past few years and they were not the first either. They are at a crossroad, where tangible achievements matter, even if it’s purely for symbolic purposes.
Good thing is, the ball in their court. With a one point lead, all they need to do is clinch nine points from their next three games and they’ll triumph for the second consecutive year and the precedence will be set all over again. But a certain East Coast team, that has proverbially had a mini revolution of their own few years ago, could spoil the party.
This weekend will be crucial for JDT. Pahang’s match against Perak would have had a completely different connotations attached to it, if it took place two months ago. But judging by the Seladangs’ ongoing predicaments, the War Elephants will undoubtedly be favourites to clinch three points Ipoh – comfortably as well, some might suggest.
But taking on Kelantan in Kota Bharu, is a whole different game. If you’ve been there, you’d understand why. The atmosphere may have gone down a notch this season, but it’s still a daunting challenge, particularly when the pressure is beginning to mount.
The Red Warriors themselves battled through a tough period to revive their form, and it doesn’t entirely matter that they’ve lost their last two games. In both ties, against Pahang and Terengganu, they weren’t completely whitewashed. It was merely a case of their opponents getting it right on the final third. And they did score three goals against Pahang, a side that has the best defensive record in the league.
More importantly though, there is a vested interest for Kelantan in this match. Symbolically, Kelantan’s revival in 2009, set a major example for the other teams in the league. The Sultan Muhammad IV stadium used to be an immovable ground. The atmosphere used to be the best in the country. And their domination of local football was groundbreaking. That isn’t the case anymore, JDT have stolen the thunder.
But a win here, would go a long way in giving back to the relentless Red Warriors’ fans. Despite their struggles, these guys remain one of the best supporters you’d find in Malaysia and a win against the reigning champions, at home, will be nothing short of stupendous. Even more so, when the win could potentially spoil JDT’s title aspirations.
The Southern Tigers know what it took for them to seize the top spot from Pahang – it took patience and consistency. They were forced to play second fiddle for months, before finally sitting on top of the throne. It’s theirs at the moment, but it could very well change this weekend, should they lose to Kelantan.
The only difference is, they may lose it for good, this time around.
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