KUALA LUMPUR − Will the Super League competition this season see the emergence of a team capable of ending the dominance of eight-time champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT)?
It appears to be a good question following Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor setting the title target for the Kedah Darul Aman Football Club (KDA FC) squad for the 2022 Super League season, which is scheduled to start early next month.
In fact, the Football Association of Kedah (KFA) president expressed confidence that KDA FC will be able to snatch the title enjoyed by JDT since 2014 if financial issues no longer haunt the team this season.
“We have a great recipe (for success this season) − Kedah people when they say the word “pulun”, it means do it as well as possible and I do not see many hurdles ahead, just some financial problems remain.
“If the financial aspect is resolved, I think JDT will be no match for us. We will be the Super League champions,” he told a press conference held today to introduce the team’s sponsors and official partners for the 2022 season.
Meanwhile, KDA FC patron Tan Sri Dr Mohd Daud Bakar, who was also present, said that apart from winning the Super League, the team also aimed to win the FA Cup and the Malaysia Cup.
Daud said high targets were set for the team this season after the squad − guided by head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak − emerged as runners-up (of the Super League) in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
“As long as we want to be there (to win), there must be improvement. So, this year, God willing, thanks to the support of the president and all Kedah supporters, we want to go all out. We want to win as many matches as possible and set an excellent performance record,” he said.
Apart from emerging as runners-up, the 2021 season saw KDA FC reach the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Cup where they lost to JDT. They also had to forget their intention to play in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup following the cancellation of the Asean zone competition due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today’s event saw KDA FC introduce seven sponsors and six official team partners with DXN Industries (M) Sdn. Bhd. as the main sponsor but did not disclose the sum of sponsorship received.
KDA FC also re-introduced the “sang kenari” (canary) as their mascot to replace the “lang merah” (red eagle), apart from bringing back their “Pulun Kedah Pulun!” (Go Kedah Go!) motto to face this season’s competitions, which will also see them competing in the AFC Cup. – Bernama, February 9, 2022
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