27/05/2026

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Title holders eye redemption in Singapore

Seven Super League clubs get AFC licences SEVEN Super League clubs man aged to secure their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and national licences for the 2025/26 licensing cycle after meeting the criteria set under the 2025/26 Malaysia Football League Club Licencing Regulations (MFL CLR). First Instance Body (FIB) said that Johor Darul Ta’zim FC, Kuching City FC, Selangor FC, Terengganu FC, Negeri Sembilan FC, Penang FC and Sabah FC have secured their licences. While four other clubs which are Imigresen FC, Melaka FC, Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC and PDRM FC were issued their national licences with sanctions according to Article 8.2 of the MFL CLR. “The four clubs need to sub mit additional financial infor mation to fulfil the financial and infrastructure crite ria by July 15, 2026 the latest. “Failure will result in the matter being referred to the FIB for further action,” FIB said in a statement yester day, adding that both KL City and PDRM were also fined RM45,000 each under article 8(f) of the MFL CLR. The FIB also confirmed that Kelantan The Real Warriors FC were not issued the national licence after failing to meet set criteria. Also, four A1 Amateur Football League clubs – Kelantan Red Warrior FC, UM Damansara United FC, Armed Forces FC and Bunga Raya FC – managed to obtain their extraordi nary national

MALAYSIAN national men’s double shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are confident of defending their title at Singapore Open 2026. The pair said they are entering this year’s competi tion fully prepared, following their recent upset at Malaysia Masters 2026. “For sure that we hope that we could defend our title from last year and we are coming here with full preparation. “Of course we would not be giving ourselves too much pressure on it and we will be going step by step,” said Aaron at a press conference yesterday.

to adjust from there and we hope that in this Singapore Open, if we meet them again, we will try to win against them,” he added. Malaysia’s delegation at this year’s tournament will be led by Aaron-Wooi Yik, who return in search of back to-back titles. Malaysia also boast strong contenders in women’s doubles through world No. 2 pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, mixed doubles through world No. 3 pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, and in men’s doubles through pro fessional pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani. – Bernama

The world No. 2 pair will begin their Singapore Open campaign by meeting the Popov brothers of France, Christo and Toma Junior, in round one today. When asked about the possibility of facing Korean world No. 1 pair, Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae in the tournament, Wooi Yik noted that they would adjust their gameplay if they meet the opponents. He said the pair is highly anticipating a meeting against their rivals again at this year’s edition. “We have played a lot of times against them and (noticed) the difference between us and them, there is a slight difference. That is one crucial part that we need

Red Giants all-in Selangor coach Kim promises aggressive approach despite first leg deficit S ELANGOR FC coach Kim Pan gon has vowed to send his team out to attack in the second leg of the 2025/26 Asean Club things. Technically and tactically, our technical team will work on it over the next few days and we will prepare very professionally.

“I want to encourage our players to gain more confidence because confi dence is very important. We will go there and attack them.” Buriram United will have forward Guilherme Bissoli available for the match after the club’s leading scorer served a one-match suspension during the first leg due to his sending off for a second bookable offence in the semifi nal win over Johor Darul Ta’zim FC. The Brazilian has scored six times so far in this season’s competition for a Buriram United attack that has found the net on 19 occasions in eight matches, more than any other team in the tournament. “It will be important for us to have him back,” Buriram United head coach Mark Jackson said of the 28-year-old. “It will be a big boost for the team to have Bissoli back and I know he will be eager to play.” The Englishman is anticipating a fresh challenge in the return fixture as Buriram United look to complete back to-back title wins to reinforce their reputation as kings of Asean club foot ball. “From our point of view, we think the second leg will be a different game,” said Jackson. “We know how to manage the recov ery process and prepare the boys physi cally and mentally for the game because this tie is not over. “We still expect a really tough chal lenge, but the way we navigated the away game has given us a lot of confi dence and we will take that into the home leg.” – SPORTFIVE

Championship Shopee Cup final today (7pm in Malaysia) as the Malaysian club look to overturn a 1-0 deficit against defending champions Buriram United FC. The teams face off at Buriram Stadium with the Thai League 1 side holding a slender advantage following Suphanat Mueanta’s 25th minute header in the opening leg at MBPJ Stadium last week. “We still have another 90 minutes and anything can happen,” said Kim. “We must stand firm, recover well and correct some things. I want to encour age the players because I can feel their confidence growing. We will be strong.” Kim’s side were unfortunate not to find the back of the Buriram United net in the opening encounter last Wednesday with both Noor Al Rawabdeh and Hugo Boumous hitting the woodwork as Selangor slipped to their first loss in the 2025/26 Shopee Cup. The defeat was only Selangor’s sec ond in 22 matches in all competitions since Kim was appointed as head coach in January and just the third time the team has not scored under the South Korean. “I have no regrets,” said Kim. “We are looking forward now. Rather than regretting, we must focus on correcting Selangor’s Faisal Halim (right) in action against Buriram United’s Kingsley Schneider during the 1st leg of the 2026 Asean Club Championship final last Wednesday. – BERNAMAPIC

licences in reference to Article 15 for the 2025 / 26 MFL Club licensing cycle. “The

licences are limited to one season of com petition for the AFC and MFL Super League, the 2026-2027 season,” the body said. – Bernama

Emotional Salah proud to put Liverpool back among football royalty

AN emotional Mohamed Salah said “we put the club back where it belongs” after playing his final game for Liverpool on Sunday. A 1-1 draw at home to Brentford on the last day of the Premier League season marked the end of the Egyptian forward’s nine-year spell at Anfield. Salah, 33, bid farewell alongside Scotland defender Andy Robertson, who also joined Liverpool in 2017. Salah scored 257 goals for Liverpool, behind only Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285) in the club’s list of leading goalscorers. He has also won multiple trophies at the club including the Champions League and two

one saying “Thank you legends”. Another said: “We Have Gone From Great To Glory. Salah Is Our King”. “Brilliant as expected,” said Slot of the recep tion for Salah and Robertson. “Our fans always find a way of doing something special in beauti ful moments and in special moments. “It’s tricky to leave Liverpool,” said Salah, add ing: “It’s life. I look back and wonder if I would have wanted more than I achieved. Not really. “We won it all. We see the love from the fans and this is the most important thing for me. “I will be far away from here. I will be emo tional every time. I hope the team stays in the position, fighting for everything.” – AFP

focus on the World Cup. I know this is our family and we’ll be welcomed back.” Salah’s departure was announced in March after he told reporters in December his relation ship with Liverpool manager Arne Slot had bro ken down. And in a social media post following last week’s defeat at Aston Villa, Salah said he wanted to see a return to “heavy metal football”, referring to the approach under former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. But he still started the match against Brentford, with the names of both Salah and Robertson met with a deafening roar when intro duced by the stadium announcer. Banners in the crowd celebrated both players,

Premier League titles. “I think I cried more than in my whole life,” Salah told Sky Sports after the Brentford match. “I’m not really an emotional guy. “We lived our youth here, sharing everything from the beginning to the end,” said Salah of the time he shared with Robertson at Anfield.“We put this club back where it belongs.” Robertson too made no attempt to hide his feelings, saying he felt “emotionally drained” after playing his final game for Liverpool. “In years to come, we know we are both wel come back to this football club. This is a big chap ter in our book, but it’s not the end. “First and foremost, we have to switch off and