Jakarta Casual

Selangor fans

With Johor Darul Ta'zim defeating Sabah 3-1 earlier today, they sit top of the nascent Malaysia Super League with five wins from five games. Are we already watching a procession to yet another title for the southern behemoth which has long outgrown the domestic game? What does their domination say about the rest of the league and, more importantly, do people still care.

Just flicking through earlier today I came across a quite remarkable stat. JDT have just three defeats in their last 125 league games! Do people still care enough about their local team knowing they are essentially playing for any morsels JDT deign to cast their way.

Let's start with today's game and the most important stat to help us understand the state of football - attendance. 11,569 saw Gustavo Bergson hit a 95th minute penalty to guarantee those three points. This was Sabah's third home game of the season. Their first against Penang drew 3,708. Next up were fellow East Malaysian side Kuching City and that game pulled in 5,141. So, obviously, for the Sabah fans they seem quite happy to come out to a game they're almost certain to lose with locals attracted by the glamour of the serial champions.

2018 22 19 2 1 47-9 59 9,997*

2019 22 16 5 1 49-19 53 5,632

2020 11 9 2 0 33-8 29  9,914**

2021 22 18 3 1 50-9  57 0**

2022 22 17 5 0 61-12 56 4,723

2023 26 25 1 0 100-7 76 5,331 

2024/24 After JDT played 5 games 7,324

* Records incomplete

** Covid hit season

Not particularly scientific I know and if I had more time I really could go through the 2018 and 2020 to get a more accurate figure but the completed seasons do show attendances holding up fairly well and if I'm honest that pleasantly surprises me. And, from afar, it is fair to say well-run Kelantan, Selangor and Melaka United would boost those figures. 

Sarawak fans away to PKNS

Malaysian football suffers from too many clubs which are, to be brutally honest, pointless. It also suffers from clubs which are poorly run. And of course a team so far ahead in terms of professionalism and infrastructure - yet for the most part fans still show a willingness to turn out and surely that is something savvy club owners could build upon.

# posted by Me @ 12:25 AM