Kedah eye their fourth title of the year in curtain raiser

PENANG: The 2007-08 Super League season kicks off tonight, with all eyes cast up north for the curtain raiser between neighbours Kedah and Perlis at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Star. 

Treble champions Kedah want to continue from where they left off last season, and the Sultan Ahmad Shah Trophy, commonly known as the Charity Shield, is next in their sights. 

After bagging the Malaysia Cup, Super League and FA Cup titles in 2006-07 to add to the Premier League crown they won a year earlier, Kedah coach Mohd Azraai Khor is just one match away from completing a 'Grand Slam’ of local titles. 

But first, they will have to get past a new-look Perlis side. 

Fiery reception: Winger K. Soley, who donned Kedah colours last season, will bereturning to the Darulaman Stadium as a Perlis player this time.

An eventful encounter can be expected, especially after the explosive affair both on and off the pitch in last year’s FA Cup final. 

Both teams fought tooth and nail for 120 minutes before Kedah trooped out champions – winning the penalty shootout 4-2. 

However, the final at the Batu Kawan State Stadium in Penang is best remembered for the wrong reasons. Thousands were locked out after a massive traffic jam along the only road leading to the venue. 

Dignitaries, including the Sultan of Kedah, were forced to walk 2km to watch the match. 

While the Sultan of Kedah can be assured of easy passage to tonight’s venue, the battle for honours on the field is expected to be equally intense. 

The Charity Shield clash also doubles up as a Super League match. 

Perlis coach Abdul Rahman Ibrahim fired the first salvo, saying he wants to win at all costs. 

“We have done our homework and are more than prepared for this showdown,” said Abdul Rahman. 

“Although we have numerous new faces in the team and are still looking for another import striker, I am confident we have enough firepower to match Kedah.” 

For Mohd Azraai, the prospect of ending a remarkable year on a high is simply too good to be missed. 

“We want to win our fourth trophy in 2007. It is important that we make a good start to the season, and there is no better way to do it than to win another trophy.” 

Adding spice to the game is the return of former Kedah winger K. Soley to Alor Star in his first competitive game for Perlis.  

Soley can expect a fiery welcome from the Darulaman crowd following his controversial transfer that upset the Kedah FA. 

Besides the Charity Shield, the other five matches on the opening weekend will not be short of excitement as well. 

Teams like Selangor, Perak, Terengganu and even the newly promoted UPB MyTeam have made extensive changes to their squad in the hope of dethroning Kedah. 

Selangor, who travel to Negri Sembilan tonight, have discarded their all-local policy following the return of Indonesian winger Elie Aiboy. 

Last season’s runner-up Perak, who were beaten in the Malaysia Cup final, have opted for an all-Chilean look by signing on defender Mario Berrios, playmaker Jorge Munoz and striker Carlos Caceres. They face darkhorses Brunei DPMM in Ipoh. 

Penang, who have stuck to their all-local policy, are hosting Pahang, who have Zainal Abidin Hassan back at the helm. 

The league’s new boys Police begin life in the top flight with a trip to Kuching to face Sarawak, while Johor FC entertain Terengganu in Pasir Gudang. 

UPB MyTeam will only make their Super League debut on Wednesday.