FELDA United F.C.

Felda United Football Club is a Malaysian football club based in Jengka, Pahang which is owned by the Malaysian Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).[2][3] The club used to compete in the Malaysian football league system but withdrew from the Malaysian league competition in 2020.[4] Known as the "Felda Fighters" among the fans, Felda United participated in the Malaysian football league from 2007 to 2020.[5]

Felda United
Logo
Full nameFelda United Football Club
Nickname(s)Felda Fighters[1]
Short nameFUFC
Founded19 January 2007 (19 January 2007)
Dissolved2020
OwnerMalaysian Federal Land Development Authority
WebsiteClub website

The team last played in the 2020 Malaysia Super League season, which is Malaysia's top flight league. The club was able to play in the Malaysia Super League after being crowned Malaysian second-tier or second division Malaysia Premier League champions in 2018.[6]

In 2020, the club made the announcement that from 2021, they will no longer participate in the Malaysian football league. A lack of financial support or funding was cited by the club's officials for making such decision to not participate in the national competition.[7][8]

Club licensing regulations

2019 season

History

The start

Felda United Football Club was formed on 19 January 2007 to participate in the Malaysian Football League starting with the 2007 Malaysia FAM Cup.[3] It was initiated by Felda and was officiated by the then Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak on 19 January 2007.[10] As football is the number one sport in Malaysia with a large number of supporters, Felda decided to jump into the industry due to the infrastructure and facilities provided on Felda land.[11] The club embarked their journey by making a debut in the Malaysian Football League by playing in the third-tier division league, the Malaysian FAM Cup. Now, the club is well known and supported by the country and its citizens, especially the Felda generations.

The club's tracks

The club has been one of the more consistent teams in the 2007 Malaysian FAM Cup after placing third, despite their fresh appearance in the industry. The club was promoted into the Premier League from the Malaysian FAM Cup in 2008 after only one season in the Malaysian Football League. Felda United played in the Premier League for 3 seasons and was promoted into the Super League after being champion of the 2010 Malaysia Premier League. After playing consistently in the Super League for 3 seasons, the team had a downfall where they were back in the Premier League for 2014. However, it was not the end for The Fighters as they were placed second in Premier League, promoting them back into Super League for 2015, 2016 and 2017. 2018 came with sorrow as the club was again, demoted into the Premier League as the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) denied their club license as they failed to submit some documents.[12] In 2019, The Fighters are back to fight heads on against the Super League clubs as they are back in the league with an approved club license from FAM.[9]

The financial downfall

Towards the end of the 2018 season, the club had a bump on their smooth road of finance. Since September to November 2018, the club did not manage to pay the players and coaching staff in time. The club's former coach, B. Sathianathan mentioned that he exposed this issue to fight for everyone's rights in the team.[13] Shukor Adan represented the team to get legal consultation from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) on the overdue payment. The former captain of the team also mentioned that he has been with the club for five seasons and none of these happened before. It gave him a sour memory of his last season with the club.[14]

Not only that, the club had to drop most of their key players[15] such as Syamim Yahya, Wan Zack Haikal, Farizal Harun and all four of the club's import players had to be switched[16] due to financial instability. The head coach, Mohd Nidzam Jamil said the club signed brand new players for the 2019 season as the budget is tight but the club also promotes Felda United's President and Youth squads to fight in the first-tier league, the Super League[15] as this would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for young players to fight heads on against professional and experienced senior players.

In January 2019, Felda United finally were able to pay at least a month's pay to the players and coaching staff out of three months. The club's president, Anuar Malek, said that they paid at least a month's worth of pay to show that the management is committed in trying to rectify the financial problem.[17] The club made a financial plan to make sure that financial issues does not come up again.

Felda United players in action wearing their home colours when competing in the Malaysia football league in 2020. The team subsequently withdrew from the Malaysia football league in 2021 after participating in the national competition for 13 years.

Withdrawal from the Malaysian football league

Following the club's decision to withdraw from the Malaysian football league competition in 2020, the club had announced that 16 staff from the team will be laid off.

In a press statement, Felda Holdings Berhad stated: "Felda wish to inform that FUFC's participation is only for the 2020 season. Starting 2021, FUFC will no longer take part in the M-League. Sixteen FUFC staff will be compensated for the termination of their services in accordance with the terms of their appointments and a notice for the handover of duties has been given to them on Sept 17, 2020.[7][8]

Grounds

Tun Abdul Razak Stadium in Jengka from night aerial view.

Felda United's current ground is the Tun Abdul Razak Stadium in Jengka, Pahang. The team officially started playing for leagues in the stadium in 2016 until now, as the stadium completed its construction in late 2015.

In their early involvement in the Malaysian Football league, they played in the Petronas Stadium in Bangi, Selangor and also the club has played some matches in Mindef Stadium in Kuala Lumpur whenever the Petronas Stadium was not available. They also played in the Petaling Jaya Stadium and Selayang Stadium in Selangor, Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka, and Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, before moving to the Tun Abdul Razak Stadium for the 2016 Malaysia Super League season and upcoming seasons.

Sponsorship

Period Sportswear Main Sponsor Other Sponsor
2007 made by club none none
2007-08 Adidas Celcom
2009 Kappa Streamyx Power Root, Felda D'Saji
2010 TM, Felda Prodata Systems
2011 Felda Prodata Systems Felda D'Saji
2012 Felda Prodata Systems, Felda D'Saji Felda Sawari
2013 Umbro FGV Felda Prodata Systems
2014 Puma Felda Koperasi Permodalan Felda Berhad, FGV
2015 Koperasi Permodalan Felda Berhad
2016 FBT none
2017 none
2018 Felda, Tenera Hotel Felda Prodata Systems, Felda D'Saji, D'Mart, AirAsia, Animasia, ATF Sport Taping
2019 Felda, Ironco, Grand Borneo
2020 Felda, TMCB none

Players

Felda United Youth Squad

The Felda United Youth consists of 2 squads of Under-21 and Under-19 players which will play for the President Cup and the Youth Cup respectively. These two cups are prominent tournaments among youngsters since its inception in the football industry of Malaysia.

Under-21 squad

No Name Nat. Position Date of Birth
Goalkeeper
22 Muhammad Amirul Hakimi Rodzan Malaysia GK 2001
25 Muhammad Danial Asraf Mohd Rani Malaysia GK 2000
30 Muhammad Hazril Azni Abdul Ghani Malaysia GK 2000
Defenders
5 Harith Marzuqi Zailaney Malaysia CB 2000
11 Noriqmal Nor Azmi Malaysia LB,LWB 2000
13 Muhammad Daniel Aiman Che Zambil Malaysia CB 2/9/99
15 Muhammad Danial Romizan Malaysia CB 8/5/2002
21 Zainal Abidin Jamil Malaysia CB 5/8/99
23 Abdul Rashid Abdul Razak Malaysia RB,RWB 2000
Midfielders
6 Muhammad Firdaus Rosli Malaysia DM, CM 2000
7 Muhammad Solihin Akmal Abdul Razak Malaysia RW, LW 2000
8 Mohamad Saiful Jamaluddin Malaysia CM 2000
12 Mohamad Daniel Haqiem Mohd Razali Abdullah Malaysia LW, LM 2000
14 Muhamad Syahir Abdul Rahman Malaysia RM, RW 2000
16 Azwan Azman Malaysia CM 1999
17 Edy Luqman Muhamad Malaysia AM, CM 2000
20 Khairul Haikal Adam Malaysia RW, RM 1999
29 Muhammad Adam Malique Daniel Ady Malaysia LW, LM 2000
Forwards
9 Muhammad Nabil Iman Muhammad Fadzil Malaysia ST 1999
10 Muhammad Haziq Man Malaysia ST,LW 2000
19 Mohammad Haizal Jine Adam Malaysia ST 2000
24 Mohamad Arrieffahmi Mohd Azam Malaysia ST 24/1/99
27 Muhammad Norazwan Mohd Amir Malaysia ST 2000

Source:[18][19]

Under-19s

No. Name Nat. Position Date of Birth
Goalkeeper
1 Amirul Rizlan Azami Malaysia GK 2005
20 Azrul Nazhan Mohd Nasrah Malaysia GK 2004
22 Muhammad Aliff Hanbali Nor Azman Malaysia GK 2004
Defenders
3 Muhammad Wazif Nazarail Malaysia CB 2005
12 Muhammad Yazid Nor Azmi Malaysia LB,LWB 2004
14 Danish Arfan Mohd Shukri Malaysia LB,LWB 2004
15 Muhammad Zairol Arief Abdullah Malaysia CB 2004
16 Muhammad Iqmal Hazim Muhamed Sufian Malaysia RB,RWB 2004
19 Muhammad Arif Ridhwan Ruslan Malaysia RB,RWB 2004
27 Muhammad Danial Hariz Mohd Faizal Malaysia CB 2004
30 Muhammad Harif Mustaqim Hamdan Malaysia CB,LB,RB 2004
Midfielders
4 Muhammad Haikal Abdul Hamid Malaysia CM 2004
5 Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Kamal Tajul Arifin Malaysia LW, LM 2005
7 Luqman Hakim Sukemi Malaysia RM, RW 2004
8 Muhammad Farid Aiman Anuar Amri Malaysia AM, CM 2004
11 Muhammad Amir Danial Muhamad Herman Malaysia LW, LM 2005
13 Mohammad Fakrul Amin Ahmad Roslizan Malaysia RM, RW 2006
17 Muhamad Raihan Ramlan Malaysia CM 2004
18 Nur Aiman Anuar Malaysia DM 2005
24 Danial Luqman Ibrahim Malaysia DM, CM 2004
25 Mohd Hafiz A.Aziz Malaysia CM 2004
26 Mohamad Ikmal Rizal Zaman Huri Malaysia CM 2004
28 Mohammad Akimie Amran Malaysia CM 2004
Forwards
6 Muhammad Alif Danial Muhd Anuar Malaysia ST, AM 2004
9 Suhaimi Abu Malaysia ST 2004
10 Nik Muhammad Ezwan Nik Ahmad Tajul Ariff Malaysia ST 2004
21 Mohamad Aiman Fahmi Mohd Azam Malaysia ST 2004
29 Mohamad Haziq Hafiz Mohd Hidrus Malaysia ST 2006

Source:[20][21]

Officials

  • Patron:
  • President: Anuar Malek
  • Deputy president: Mohd Isa Abu Kassim
  • Vice president 1: Anuar Malek
  • Vice president 2: Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman
  • Secretary general: Zulkarnain Muhammad
  • Treasurer: Shahrin Mohd Ali

Team managers

Years Name
2007 - 2012 Malaysia Faisal Zakariah
2013 Malaysia K. Devan
2014 - 2016 Malaysia Jamaludin Ahmad
2016 Malaysia Zulkarnain Mohamad
2017 - 2020 Malaysia Jamaludin Ahmad

Coaches

Years Name Achievement
2007 - 2009 Malaysia Reduan Abdullah
2009 Malaysia Ahmad Fairuz Mohd Yunus (caretaker)
2009 - 2012 Malaysia E. Elavarasan 2010 Premier League
champions
2013 Malaysia K. Devan
2014 - 2016 Malaysia Irfan Bakti Abu Salim 2014 Premier League
runner-up
2016 Super League runner up
2016 Malaysia Mohamad Nik (caretaker) 2016 Super League runner up
2016 - 2017 Malaysia Azmi Mohamed 2016 Super League runner up
February 2017 Malaysia Mohamad Nik (caretaker)
February 2017 - November 2018 Malaysia B. Sathianathan[22] 2018 Premier League
champions
November 2018 - November 2020 Malaysia Mohd Nidzam Jamil[23]

Honours and achievements

League

Cups

Achievements

Year League Cups
Division Position FA Malaysia AFC
2007 Malaysia FAM League 3rd Not participated Not participated Not participated
2007–08 Malaysia Premier League 6/13 Quarter-finals Not participated Not participated
2009 Malaysia Premier League 6/13 Round of 32 Not participated Not participated
2010 Malaysia Premier League Champions Round of 16 Group stage Not participated
2011 Malaysia Super League 11/14 Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Not participated
2012 Malaysia Super League 10/14 Round of 32 Quarter-finals Not Participated
2013 Malaysia Super League 11/12 Round of 32 Group stage Not participated
2014 Malaysia Premier League Runners-up Runners-up Semi-finals Not participated
2015 Malaysia Super League 5/12 Round of 32 Semi-finals Not participated
2016 Malaysia Super League Runners-up Round of 16 Quarter-finals Not participated
2017 Malaysia Super League 3/12 Second round Semi-finals Group stage
2018 Malaysia Premier League Champions Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Not participated

Source:[2]

AFC competitions

Performance in AFC competitions

  • AFC Cup: 1 Appearance

AFC clubs ranking

As of 1 December 2017.[24]
Current Rank Country Team
119MalaysiaFelda United
120JordanAl-Ahli
121TurkmenistanAhal
122IndiaEast Bengal
123KyrgyzstanAlay Osh
124ThailandBangkok United

Contiental record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2017 AFC Cup Group G Singapore Tampines Rovers 1–3 2–1 4th
Vietnam Hà Nội 1–1 4–1
Philippines Ceres-Negros 0–0 3–0

References

  1. "No more the settlers". New Straits Times. 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  2. Felda United Achievements
  3. Felda United guna Stadium Tun Abdul Razak musim ini Berita Harian, 3 February 2016
  4. Felda United 'uproot' themselves
  5. "Peneroka tubuh pasukan Felda United sertai Liga FAM". FourFourTwo. 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  6. Felda United captured 2018 Malaysia Premier League Title Zulhilmi Zainal, 18 July 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  7. "Felda United FC to withdraw from M-League next season". Malaymail.com.
  8. "Felda United 'uproot' themselves". nst.com.my.
  9. Lesen Kebangsaan Felda United 2019 Lulus Zulfaizan Mansor, 16 November 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  10. Najib Kicks Off Felda United. The Star, 20 January 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2019
  11. Sejarah Felda United Felda United FC. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  12. Felda United Demoted for Failing to Comply with Regulations New Straits Times, 4 December 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  13. Sathianathan Demands for their Rights Sulaiman Ismail, 19 December 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  14. Shukor wants Felda to Settle Overdue Payment Stadium Astro, 2 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  15. Felda United Drop Key Players The Star, 18 November 2018. Retrieved by 14 January 2019.
  16. Felda Tukar Semua Pemain Import Asrol Awang, 18 November 2018. Retrieved by 14 January 2019.
  17. Felda United Pays Overdue Payment Syafiq Aznan, 11 January 2019. Retrieved by 14 January 2019.
  18. "Felda U21". www.pengurusanbolasepakfam.org.my. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  19. "Felda U21 2020". www.feldaunitedfc.com. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  20. "Felda Utd U19". www.pengurusanbolasepakfam.org.my. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  21. "Felda Utd U19 2020". FAM. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  22. "Sathianathan jurulatih baharu Felda United". Berita Harian. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  23. "Nidzam Jamil jurulatih baharu Felda United". Semuanya Bola. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  24. "AFC Club Ranking (2nd July 2017 )". globalfootballranks.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
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