FELDA United F.C.

(Redirected from FELDA United)

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; 17 years ago (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.

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

PeriodSportswearMain SponsorOther Sponsor
2007made by clubnonenone
2007-08AdidasCelcom
2009KappaStreamyxPower Root, Felda D'Saji
2010TM, Felda Prodata Systems
2011Felda Prodata SystemsFelda D'Saji
2012Felda Prodata Systems, Felda D'SajiFelda Sawari
2013UmbroFGVFelda Prodata Systems
2014PumaFeldaKoperasi Permodalan Felda Berhad, FGV
2015Koperasi Permodalan Felda Berhad
2016FBTnone
2017none
2018Felda, Tenera HotelFelda Prodata Systems, Felda D'Saji, D'Mart, AirAsia, Animasia, ATF Sport Taping
2019Felda, Ironco, Grand Borneo
2020Felda, Tanah Melayu Capitalnone

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

NoNameNat.PositionDate of Birth
Goalkeeper
22Muhammad Amirul Hakimi Rodzan GK2001
25Muhammad Danial Asraf Mohd Rani GK2000
30Muhammad Hazril Azni Abdul Ghani GK2000
Defenders
5Harith Marzuqi Zailaney CB2000
11Noriqmal Nor Azmi LB,LWB2000
13Muhammad Daniel Aiman Che Zambil CB2/9/99
15Muhammad Danial Romizan CB8/5/2002
21Zainal Abidin Jamil CB5/8/99
23Abdul Rashid Abdul Razak RB,RWB2000
Midfielders
6Muhammad Firdaus Rosli DM, CM2000
7Muhammad Solihin Akmal Abdul Razak RW, LW2000
8Mohamad Saiful Jamaluddin CM2000
12Mohamad Daniel Haqiem Mohd Razali Abdullah LW, LM2000
14Muhamad Syahir Abdul Rahman RM, RW2000
16Azwan Azman CM1999
17Edy Luqman Muhamad AM, CM2000
20Khairul Haikal Adam RW, RM1999
29Muhammad Adam Malique Daniel Ady LW, LM2000
Forwards
9Muhammad Nabil Iman Muhammad Fadzil ST1999
10Muhammad Haziq Man ST,LW2000
19Mohammad Haizal Jine Adam ST2000
24Mohamad Arrieffahmi Mohd Azam ST24/1/99
27Muhammad Norazwan Mohd Amir ST2000

Source:[18][19]

Under-19s

No.NameNat.PositionDate of Birth
Goalkeeper
1Amirul Rizlan Azami GK2005
20Azrul Nazhan Mohd Nasrah GK2004
22Muhammad Aliff Hanbali Nor Azman GK2004
Defenders
3Muhammad Wazif Nazarail CB2005
12Muhammad Yazid Nor Azmi LB,LWB2004
14Danish Arfan Mohd Shukri LB,LWB2004
15Muhammad Zairol Arief Abdullah CB2004
16Muhammad Iqmal Hazim Muhamed Sufian RB,RWB2004
19Muhammad Arif Ridhwan Ruslan RB,RWB2004
27Muhammad Danial Hariz Mohd Faizal CB2004
30Muhammad Harif Mustaqim Hamdan CB,LB,RB2004
Midfielders
4Muhammad Haikal Abdul Hamid CM2004
5Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Kamal Tajul Arifin LW, LM2005
7Luqman Hakim Sukemi RM, RW2004
8Muhammad Farid Aiman Anuar Amri AM, CM2004
11Muhammad Amir Danial Muhamad Herman LW, LM2005
13Mohammad Fakrul Amin Ahmad Roslizan RM, RW2006
17Muhamad Raihan Ramlan CM2004
18Nur Aiman Anuar DM2005
24Danial Luqman Ibrahim DM, CM2004
25Mohd Hafiz A.Aziz CM2004
26Mohamad Ikmal Rizal Zaman Huri CM2004
28Mohammad Akimie Amran CM2004
Forwards
6Muhammad Alif Danial Muhd Anuar ST, AM2004
9Suhaimi Abu ST2004
10Nik Muhammad Ezwan Nik Ahmad Tajul Ariff ST2004
21Mohamad Aiman Fahmi Mohd Azam ST2004
29Mohamad Haziq Hafiz Mohd Hidrus ST2006

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

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

Coaches

YearsNameAchievement
2007 - 2009 Reduan Abdullah
2009 Ahmad Fairuz Mohd Yunus (caretaker)
2009 - 2012 E. Elavarasan2010 Premier League
champions
2013 K. Devan
2014 - 2016 Irfan Bakti Abu Salim2014 Premier League
runner-up
2016 Super League runner up
2016 Mohamad Nik (caretaker)2016 Super League runner up
2016 - 2017 Azmi Mohamed2016 Super League runner up
February 2017 Mohamad Nik (caretaker)
February 2017 - November 2018 B. Sathianathan[22]2018 Premier League
champions
November 2018 - November 2020 Mohd Nidzam Jamil[23]

Honours and achievements

Honours

League

Cups

Achievements

YearLeagueCups
Division Position FA Malaysia AFC
2007Malaysia FAM League3rdNot participatedNot participatedNot participated
2007–08Malaysia Premier League6/13Quarter-finalsNot participatedNot participated
2009Malaysia Premier League6/13Round of 32Not participatedNot participated
2010Malaysia Premier LeagueChampionsRound of 16Group stageNot participated
2011Malaysia Super League11/14Quarter-finalsQuarter-finalsNot participated
2012Malaysia Super League10/14Round of 32Quarter-finalsNot Participated
2013Malaysia Super League11/12Round of 32Group stageNot participated
2014Malaysia Premier LeagueRunners-upRunners-upSemi-finalsNot participated
2015Malaysia Super League5/12Round of 32Semi-finalsNot participated
2016Malaysia Super LeagueRunners-upRound of 16Quarter-finalsNot participated
2017Malaysia Super League3/12Second roundSemi-finalsGroup stage
2018Malaysia Premier LeagueChampionsQuarter-finalsQuarter-finalsNot 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
119 Felda United
120 Al-Ahli
121 Ahal
122 East Bengal
123 Alay Osh
124 Bangkok United

Continental record

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
2017AFC CupGroup G Tampines Rovers1–32–14th
Hà Nội1–14–1
Ceres-Negros0–03–0

References