Johor Malaysia Super League Watch

Can Johor win the Malaysia Super League 2013 title?

When JCorp decided to allow Tunku Ismail Ibrahim to take the reins of the very top seat in football, that is the moment that will change Johor's fate forever. Once the 2012 season ends, the Crown Prince of Johor immediately signify the changes by spending heavily during transfer window in the off-season including two proven imports of European heavyweight, Euro 2008 winner Dani Guiza and Lazio legend Simone Del Nero. They later added a long list of Malaysia international star, Kelantan star Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Nurul Azwan Roya, Selangor star Safiq Rahim alongside ATM trio Aidil Zafuan, Zaquan Adha and Azmi Muslim. They even went as far as trying to have a loan deal with Malaysia star striker Safee Sali while AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 tournament is in commence as if it wasn't enough for the Southern Tiger. Ludicrous it may seems, given that Johor FC only finished 9th in the Super League last season, a fair assessment to a very average performance throughout the season. They didn't just signed several players, but to the point that they revamp the whole Johor FC and Johor FA squad to make it under one management. Later, they assign Fandi Ahmad as their new head coach ,they change the emblem and even the name to Darul Takzim FC and Johor United. This may displeased the majority of non-Johor fans due to their financial and royal advantage but the prince get the support he wanted from the fans. While he may largely neglected one of the most important part of football which is local derby inside his own state, his ambition to succeed were applauded by many. It is remain to be seen whether such a short-term plan will end with glorious towards the end, but 2013 season will expected to be more interesting than ever before.

Key Player: Dani Guiza, Simone Del Nero, Safee Sali, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Safiq Rahim, Aidil Zafuan, Zaquan Adha, Azmi Muslim

Young Talented Player: Zamir Selamat, Muslim Ahmad        

Malaysia Super League 2012: finished 9th

Team Chance Status: Title candidate

Wan Zack and Shakir will miss the clash against Thailand

Doubtful in a clash against Thailand

Wan Zack Haikal

Safee Sali

S. Kunanlan

Shakir Shaari

Malaysia head coach, K. Rajagobal has confirmed that both Wan Zack Haikal and Shakir Shaari are ruled out of contention to play in first leg semi-final against Thailand. He said Wan Zack has suffered a thigh muscle tear and may not available until the end of the tournament. Kelantan midfielder Shakir Shaari will miss the game due to ankle injury but will most likely to join the team back for the second leg in Bangkok. There are doubts to other key players too, with S. Kunanlan, Kyril Muhymeen and Safee Sali carrying a knock sustained before and during 2-0 victory over arch-rival Indonesia. Only Kunanlan has shake off his injury and will be available for selection against Thailand. Rajagobal said he is not too concern with injury blow and hopes that the other squad player should step up their performance and take advantage with the current situation when selected to be in the first eleven.

Wan Zack Haikal and Shakir Shaari have been performing above expectation, playing extremely well in two previous matches in a row but will be sidelined for tomorrow clash against Thailand. Wan Zack Haikal is one of the Malaysia's brightest young talent ever produced, playing debut season with Felda United in 2007 before spending his whole career with Harimau Muda A, winning his first major honour with them, the 2009 Malaysia Premier League title. He is part of Harimau Muda A who trained at Slovakia in 2010 and have a short term loan deal with Slovakian club, FC Vion but failed to make a single appearance due to injury. He return to Malaysia with Harimau Muda A in 2012, following the exchange deal with Lion XII who will play in Malaysia Super League, while Harimau Muda A will featuring in S-League. During this time, Wan Zack, along with his teammate Wan Zaharulnizam were attending a trial with Japanese club, FC Ryukyu for two weeks. He is one of the young Malaysian talent who is expected to shine in few years time but could not do so as he have missed a lot of important matches and tournaments due to his awful injury record. If he is in injury-free, he will certainly playing at his best, as what he did currently in AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 tournament that earned Malaysia a deserved place in the semi-final, for the quest of retaining the title for the second time.

BREAKING NEWS: Safee Sali joins Johor revolution

Safee Sali joins the Southern Tiger
(Photo Courtesy www.murkiester.com) 

Johor has finalised the signing of Malaysian international striker, Safee Sali, for a one-season loan deal, yesterday.

The 28 year-old have previously dismissed any transfer movement and his linked to big-spenders Johor. He said he is fully committed and focus solely on first leg semi-final AFF Suzuki Cup against neighbours Thailand and does not looking to move elsewhere at the moment. But rumours begin to emerge suggesting he will meet Johor's representative in a ceremony yesterday night to finalise the deal, a rumours that he strongly denied. Both Malaysia national head coach, K. Rajagobal and FAM are furious with Johor's approach, citing that it may cause disruptive over player's attention during the tournament season. Nonetheless, Johor finally concludes the deal at Wisma FAM with his parent club's permission, Arema Indonesia, until the end of the next season. Safee will join the long list of star players in the Southern Tiger side, with the likes of national team-mate Shahrul Idlan Talaha, Safiq Rahim and Aidil Zafuan, as well as two European stars, Dani Guiza and Simone Del Nero. 

Safee Sali is best known in Malaysia and South East Asia region, when he won the Golden Boot Award during AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 victory, scoring 5 goals. He started his career with Kuala Lumpur in 2003, making 31 appearances and scored 20 goals with another 4 loan appearances for Melaka TMFC. He signed for the Borneo side, Sarawak, in 2005, making 26 appearances and scored 10 goals. He return to Malaysia Peninsular in 2006, signing with one of the top Malaysian club, Selangor, making a total of 105 appearances and scoring 36 goals. In 2011 season, he made the headlines when he became the first Malaysian player to play outside of Malaysia, signing with Indonesian Super League side, Pelita Jaya, making 42 appearances and scored 27 goals. He joined Arema Indonesia in 2012 after the owner of Pelita Jaya emerged both of the club during a long dispute of Indonesian FA over the Indonesian Super League as an illegal league with high possibility of FIFA suspension, before signing a loan deal with the Southern Malaysia side, Johor.