PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Football League (MFL) want teams to be professional but they seem to be acting amateurishly.
This year’s Super League is over with Johor Darul Ta’zim winning the title for the 10th consecutive year but MFL have yet to announce the schedule for next year’s season.
Other organisations have already planned their schedule much earlier.
MFL’s slow move has put teams in quandary.
Pahang coach Fandi Ahmad (pic) said they needed to know the dates of next year’s competitions earlier so that they can plan better.
The season is expected to start in April, but he pleaded for the MFL to release the dates as soon as possible.
“When are we going to start training? We need to know when the pre-season is starting,” said the Singaporean football legend after his team concluded their last league match on Saturday.
Their match against Kuala Lumpur ended with a goalless draw at the Cheras Football Stadium on Saturday.
“We need to put a lot of thought into planning for what’s ahead. If there are no definite dates given, it’ll be tough to plan the pre-season. We also have to sign up players for the Elephants,” said Fandi.
“There is Hari Raya and the Ramadan month too, we have to take note of all this. We just need to know when the league is starting and then make earlier preparation.
“I’m not blaming anyone but we need the schedule earlier. We just want to prepare properly.”
MFL have yet to announce the exact date of the new season kickoff due to problems surrounding a few teams.
Unless the number of teams are confirmed for next year, they will not be able to draft the schedule. Kelantan for example, may have their licemce revoked as they have yet to pay the salary of their players.
Several other teams are in the same boat as far as the unpaid wages are concerned.
The sooner, the MFL solve the issues, the sooner they can provide the teams the exact calendar for the year.
Earlier, the professional body said they would make changes in their competition schedule so that it will be alligned with the Asian Football Conferedation (AFC) calendar and ensure that the M-League transfer window is in line with international leagues.
Fandi said the delay would affect their finances too.
“Everything is on hold, and it will be tough to sign up players. The delay can make it harder on teams,” he said.
This season, Pahang finished fifth with 45 points from 26 games.
They scored 44 goals, with Liberian striker Kpah Sherman emerging as their top hitman with 12 goals.
Fandi said fifth was a decent standing although the club owner Tengku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah was hopeful for a third placing.
“We were unlucky with injuries this season and some of the players’ contract also ended. Lucas (Espindola) was injured for so long and it was the same with Syamie Iszuan Amin,” he said.
“It was tough fighting the bigger teams with injuries in the team. We have to fix it for next season. We need quality players.”
