The Malaysia Super League is back! After what appeared to be a monumental hiatus, all the excitement and drama that we usually get from the country’s top league is already underway with Johor DT defeating Pahang to lift the Charity Shield last weekend. And if you thought last year was brilliant, be prepared to watch things escalate to a whole new level this year. With Johor DT pushing forward in their expansion plans, other teams trying to keep up and match the Southern Tigers, and the fiasco involving television rights for the league; there’s so much more to expect this year. That being said, FourthOfficial.com will be unleashing a series of club previews over the next five days and we’ll take a look at all the teams that will be strutting their stuff in the Super League this year. Next on the list is ATM FA!
ATM FA
Manager & Head Coach: B. Sathianathan
SQUAD LIST
GOALKEEPERS: Syed Adney, Razi Effendi, Hafizuddin Azuhar
DEFENDERS: K. Reuben, Norfazly Alias, Obinna Nwaneri, Amiridzwan Taj, Raja Mohd Ridzuwan, Badrul Hisham, Riduwan Maon, Azmeer Yusof, Safwan Hasyim, Azreen Zulkafli
MIDFIELDERS: Affizie Faisal, Venice Elphi, Christie Jayaseelan, Mario Karlovic, Fadzli Shaari, Fazrul Hazli, Thinagaran, Shukor Jusoh, Afiq Amsyar, Syazuan Hazani, Ammar Abdul Aziz
FORWARDS: Jerry Palacios, Norshahrul Idlan, Hairuddin Omar, Abdulafees Abdulsalam, Yusaini Hafiz
2014 STATS
Malaysia Super League League: 10th
Malaysia FA Cup: 1st Round
Malaysia Cup: Group Stages
ANALYSIS
2014 would certainly be a year that ATM would love to wipe off the calendar. They came into it with so much of hopes, but injuries and inconsistency eventually got the better of them as they finished 10th in the Malaysia Super League. They also got knocked out in the first round of the FA Cup, besides not progressing past the Group Stage at the Malaysia Cup.
But Sathianathan has other plans for 2015. They spent the off-season beefing up their squad, particularly on the offensive department, where they’ve recruited national team striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha. Besides that, they also brought in Honduran forward Jerry Palacios as well as ex-Perak striker Abdulafees Abdulsalam. Defensively, they have also strengthen their side by bringing in Obinna Nwaneri, who previously plied his trade for Kelantan.
That’s not the only good news ahead of the season opener. Amiridzwan Taj and K. Reuben, two players who spent so much of time on the touch lines due to injuries, are back in the team. On paper, they seem to have a decent squad that is capable of pulling an upset every now and then. But it’s fresh and as far as pre-season is concerned, they have not entirely impressed either. Unless Norshahrul and Jerry Palacios start hitting top form, it’s very hard to see them doing exceptionally well this year.
VERDICT: Strugglers
List of Club Previews:
1. Kelantan FA
2. Sarawak FA
3. PDRM FA
4. Terengganu FA
5. Perak FA
6. Selangor FA
7. LionsXII
8. Felda United
9. Sime Darby
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