Posted at 17:10h in THE VOICE OF CITY BOYS
The 2022 Super League season kicks off this Friday, with the biggest game of the week, when the City Boys welcome neighbours Selangor at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras.
Selangor having ended another trophy less campaign in 2021, the sixth straight year since winning their 33rd Malaysia Cup in 2015, have heavily invested in strengthening their squad, as they intend to show that they remain a force to be reckoned with following the disappointment of last year’s fifth place finish, 21 points behind champions Johor DT, and getting knocked out at the quarter-finals stage of the Malaysia Cup. Possessing one of the largest budgets in the league, and backed by their royal house and the state government, Selangor signed 4 new imports, 2 each from Jordan and Brazil. In comes defender Yazan Al Arab and midfielder Baha’ Abdel Rahman, both experienced national team players, and upfront, Herlison Caion and Hyuri Henrique will be relied upon to plug the gap left by the departure of Ifedayo Olusegun’s goals, while retaining skipper Singaporean Safuwan Baharudin. They are also beefed up by the arrivals of goalkeeper Samuel Somerville from Penang and local born defender Fazly Mazlan from Johor DT, while Brendan Gan is almost like a new signing after his recovery from cancer. Technical Director Michael Feichtenbeiner takes over the reins of the team as head coach from his fellow German Karsten Neitzel.
The City Boys did not have the best pre-season after a Covid-19 breakout in the middle of February, disrupted our preparations, that led to that unenergetic and disjointed performance in the Charity Cup loss against Johor DT last weekend. Head coach Bojan though did not read too much into that loss, suggesting for the Red & White, it all starts with the Super League campaign. After the Malaysia Cup win in December, there has been an air of expectancy from our fans and new found respect from our opponents; this season is set to get tougher, but the City Boys will be keen to extinguish whatever doubts remaining, that we have what it takes to better last year’s sixth placing, starting with the Super League opener.
Fridays meeting between the crosstown rivals will be the 84th Klang Valley derby since 1979 (the beginning of nationwide league competition and the birth of the capital team). Selangor holds the lions share with 50 wins, against the City Boys’ 17. More importantly, we got the better of Selangor last season, winning both quarter-final legs during the march to Malaysia Cup glory, and in the league, we drew 1-1 twice. It was another draw, scoreless though, in the Piala Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan pre-season match, but we edged them in the penalty shoot-out. Selangor last triumphed over us in 2019, doing the double in the league.
The City Boys will once again be missing Romel, Nik Shahrul and Izreen through injury.
Match Day 1 of the Super League between Kuala Lumpur City and Selangor is on Friday, March 4, 2022, at 9pm (2100hrs), in Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras.
Tickets for the Super League match against Selangor is available at the following link, https://www.tickethotline.com.my
For Season Ticket Holders (B2 City Boys), enjoy 20% off regular ticket prices for your friends and/or family. (Limited to a maximum of 4 tickets per transaction. Contact Shamim for details)