Congrats JDT, now let’s hope the others can take them on

WHEN Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) confirmed their ninth consecutive Super League title two weeks ago, a friend of mine paraphrased English legend Gary Lineker, complete with a Malaysian twang.

“Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes, and in the end, Johor win.”

With the Super League ending today, one can only marvel at JDT’s growth. A side packed with abundant talent and wealth, they continue to rip apart the league in their way.

Some have deemed them classy, others despise their haughty arrogance but none can dispute the team’s exuberance.

This team, with an almost bottomless pit of riches, are spending money on the right things. They have the best players, facilities and academies.

Every single thing about the Southern Tigers seems to be clicking. As things are, the dominance is set to continue for years.

But is that a good thing? There have also been murmurs that the league has become too one-dimensional, with sides unable to match the Johor side.

Now, the league title is no longer a target. It’s a foregone conclusion. The sad fact is that teams are more interested in the battle for the Asian spots. A football purist would want to see more challengers to the throne.

In terms of AFC club competitions rankings, we are among the top 10 in the region thanks to the performances of JDT and Kuala Lumpur on the intercontinental stage but domestically, we need to see closer fights.

If we do not see that happening, the number of fans will dwindle. Many have told or even ridiculed me, asking why I bother about a tinpot or Farmers League?

This year, there is also no relegation, with the 12-team Super League becoming an 18-team one next season.

It may be a good move as players will have more games and exposure, but how it will improve the state of Malaysian football remains to be seen.

There are also other areas that need work.

First, financial issues and licensing. Melaka and Sarawak United have been mired in salary arrears. Both clubs have not been given licences to compete in the league next year.

It’s going to cost more next year with the increased number of games and more teams could go broke. Something needs to be done.

Then comes the refereeing. This season, there have been questionable decisions almost every match week, with social media abuzz about them.

That has to be reduced, and many are clamouring for the video-assisted referee (VAR) system. But that looks unlikely until 2024 and even VAR is under much fire in the West.

Also, it is time for the Malaysia Professional Referee System (MProRS) to be realised to ensure professionalism among the officials.

To be fair, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) are doing their best to make sure the league is commercially viable.

The different kick-off times have been lauded, and this will continue next season, with even afternoon fixtures being a possibility.

However, the most important thing is the quality of competition.

The league has to be loved for it to grow, and the love will come when many teams are in with a chance.

The fans have to take ownership and demand that their clubs close the gap. Change will come, even in small measures.

Let’s hope that we can see the emergence of other sides that can challenge JDT till the end.

I am sure the clubs - and fans - would want that too!