Malaysian Super League Preview: Kedah Struggling with Salary Arrears Issues, Pahang Rebounds with Big Win in Last Match

On September 20th at 9 PM, the 11th round of the Malaysian Super League will see Kedah host Pahang at Stadium Darul Aman.

Kedah, established in 1924, is a traditional powerhouse in Malaysian football history. However, despite being the first club to win the treble twice, their recent performances have not been impressive. The previous Singaporean coach Edil Sharin did not progress further after leading the team into the AFC Champions League qualification playoffs, and under the current coach Nazri Zain, although there has been some improvement (finishing 4th last season), issues remain.

In this season’s Malaysian Super League, Kedah currently stands at the 8th position with 3 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses. They are 11 points behind the second AFC Champions League qualification spot, once again falling into a slump. In the last match, Kedah suffered a humiliating five-goal defeat away to Kuala Lumpur, with the opponent’s naturalized midfielder Josue scoring a hat-trick, completely breaking down Kedah’s defense. Additionally, according to reports from Malaysia’s sports portal, Kedah is facing severe salary arrears issues this season. Consequently, foreign players such as Nordine and Gordinic were not included in the squad against Kuala Lumpur, with the forward line led by the 25-year-old local striker Rosli.

Regarding the team’s current predicament, Kedah chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Haji Muhammad Najib bin Tun Haji Taib called for support and attention from the state government during a press conference, confirming that the team is close to securing financial support. However, he also admitted that some players want to leave due to financial issues, and players have begun boycotting training to reclaim their salaries from the past few months. According to explanations from relevant officials of the Football Association of Malaysia, teams unable to resolve salary arrears quickly will be considered for expulsion from the league. Currently, Kedah, Perak, and Kuala Lumpur are all facing this dilemma.

Pahang won their last league match 5-1 at home against Royal Malaysian Police, with the team’s Argentine central defender Stefano Brundo and Liberian striker Sherman both scoring two goals each. Another Argentine forward, Icardi, who joined from Kedah this season, also scored. These three players are likely to start again in this round, forming a formidable foreign player lineup, causing significant trouble for Kedah.

Currently, in the Malaysian Super League standings, Pahang is temporarily ranked 9th with 2 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, also trailing the second AFC Champions League spot by 12 points. This season, they are likely to remain in mid-table. Regarding the morale issue following the big win, Pahang’s Singaporean coach Fandi Ahmad said at the pre-match press conference: “We believe this victory has inspired the team, but I hope the players can raise their alertness and take every opportunity to score against the home team. Also, Sherman has gradually regained his goal-scoring touch, but there is still room for improvement.”

In the last 20 encounters between the two teams, Kedah has 8 wins, 7 draws, and 5 losses, slightly holding an advantage. In this round, will the financially troubled Kedah be able to field their full-strength lineup? Can Pahang, who just regained their form, take all three points away?

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