Negeri Sembilan Malaysia Super League Watch

Will Negeri Sembilan finally challenge for the top spot?

One of the team that troubled all of their opponents in the early 2012 season when Jean-Emmanuel Effa Owona introduced himself to Malaysian fans with two goals against Kelantan that eventually secured 2012 Charity Shield title, the first in 27 years. Since then, there were high expectations that Negeri Sembilan might challenge for the top spot in the Super League and possibly winning it gloriously. But a sudden downturn in form and performances of the team, a shock FA Cup first round exit to Johor FC and were not able to retain Malaysia Cup after losing to the eventual finalist ATM in quarter-final round. While Effa Owona banging on goals for fun, he made the headlines for a wrong reason as well, after a series of controversies surrounding the temperamental Cameroonian striker. Its difficult to assess how Negeri Sembilan campaign ended up with failure, but a lack of experience, quality and consistency might be the real reason. This season they will keen to put 2012 season behind, as they added more experience player with the likes of Hamsani Ahmad, Fauzi Nan, Eddy Helmi, and Alafi Mahmud. Emanuel De Porras will lead the attack as he replaced Effa Owona who left to join the East Coast side Terengganu while William Paul Modibo filling in Marian Farbak's place in the heart of the defence. On the other hand, they will missed Farizal Marlias who joined Perak, S. Kunanlan to Selangor and Shukor Adan to newly promoted side ATM who became their most valuable players since winning Malaysia Cup twice in three years. They will now have to content with the player they have in the disposal as they will lead by Portuguese head coach, Divaldo Alves who previously managed Persebaya 1927, Minangkabau and Persijap. If Negeri Sembilan were to achieve successful campaign, they will need the performance of Shakir Ali and Shahurain Abu Samah to gear up the team ahead in Malaysia Super League.

Key Player: Fauzi Nan, Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, Idris Karim, Shahurain Abu Samah, Shakir Ali

Young Talented Player: Shakir Ali, Halim Zainal, Firdaus Azizul, Muszaki Abu Bakar

2012 season: Finished 6th in Malaysia Super League

Team Status Chances: Top half finish

Fakri Saarani going abroad

Photo Coutesy from sokernet.com.my

Ahmad Fakri Saarani is set to become Malaysia's third player that will plying trade outside of Malaysia, after being approached by Marco Guimaraes, a football agent who is the one who arranged Nazmi Faiz move successfully to SC Beira Mar, to play for Atletico Sport Clube in Teircera Liga, a second division league in Portugal, for a six-month contract. He also receives several offers from Malaysia Super League clubs, as well as other Portuguese clubs in higher division, but worried he may not get a first team chances as much as he would have hope. The club head coach, Paulo Simao, is said to be impressed with Fakri after watching him playing in the video. The 23 yeor-old will join the club as soon as the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 competition is over. Fakri, who is considered as a former Malaysian wonderkid, scored a hat-trick at the age of 18, when he played for Perak in Malaysia Super League match against Negri Sembilan, and later went on to play for Perlis, which he plays in his best form and became a highlight of his career. He is also part of Harimau Muda who won 2008 Malaysia Premier League title, Gold medal in 2009 SEA Games and 2011 SEA Games. He is also successful in club level, winning 2011 Malaysia Cup title by beating Terengganu with Negri Sembilan. He suffered a long-term injury when he is still playing for Perlis and on the verge of signing for Negri Sembilan and subsequently ruled out to play for 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. He recovered from his injury since then but could not regain his form and performances, after he struggled both in club level and international level, and even after move to Felda United earlier this year, he could not live up to the expectation, as he is tipped to become one of the brightest young talent that Malaysia have after years of drought in producing young talent. This move may as well rejuvenated his form back to his best and to be a regular starter in the first eleven for the national setup once again.