Penang FA

Penang FA
Full name Persatuan Bola Sepak Pulau Pinang
(Football Association of Penang)
Nickname(s) The Panthers
Founded 1920
Ground Bandaraya Stadium
George Town, Penang
Capacity 20,000
Chairman Nazir Ariff Munshir Ariff
Coach Jacksen F. Tiago
League Premier League
2014 Premier League, 3rd
Website Club home page

Football Association of Penang (or simply known as Penang FA) is a Malaysian professional football club based in Georgetown that plays in the Malaysia Premier League.

Unofficially Founded in 1920, Official as Football Association of Penang in 1921, the club represent the Penang state in football competitions. The team has traditionallly worn a blue home kit.

They have a long-standing rivalry with Kedah, the two northern region teams collectively known as the Northern Region Derby.

The team play their home matches at the 20,000 capacity Bandaraya Stadium in Georgetown.

Penang established itself as a major force in Malaysian football between the 1950s to the 1970s. Domestically, Penang has won a record of 3 Division 1 titles, 4 Malaysia Cup titles, 5 Malaysia FAM League titles, 1 Malaysia FA Cup title and 1 Malaysia Charity Shield.

History

The club was founded in 1920 Unofficially, Official as Football Association of Penang in 1921 (Malay: Persatuan Bola Sepak Pulau Pinang). Penang FA is the second oldest football team in Malaysia. The team is based in the state of Penang in the north of Malaysia. Penang have consistently been a decent team throughout their history, producing players such as the country's first Olympian. Penang is the fifth most successful team in Malaysian football history with 14 champions.

Early years (1920-1950s)

In 21 October 1921, the club was founded. Almost all the big matches were played at Victoria Green, home of the Chinese Recreation Club. The team enter into the final of the Malaysia most prestigious football tournament, Malaysia Cup's final in 1934, but the team lost to Singapore FA with a heartbreaking score of 1-2. Penang enter into the final of the last edition of Malaysia Cup before World War II and they lost to the same opponent in 1934 with the same score. During the World War II, football competitions were stopped.

Glory Days (1950s-1970s)

An era spanning the 1950s to the 70s when Penang was among the top teams in inter-state football.

The 1950s saw Penang producing players such as the country's first Olympian, Yeap Cheng Eng, Yeang Kah Chong, Tan Swee Hock, Wong Kam Poh, Yap Hin Hean, Liew Fee Yuen, Lee Ah Loke, the Pang brothers and more. Since the early 1950s, Aziz Ahmad was Penang's top goal-getter in 1953 and 1954. He scored the winning goal when Penang defeated Singapore 3-2 in the 1953 Malaya Cup final in Ipoh. Penang won 3 Malaysia Cup champions (1953, 1954 and 1958) and 4 FAM Cup champions (1952, 1955, 1956 and 1957).

Some of the well-known FAP officials then were Loh Hoot Yeang, who was president for many years, A.S. Mohamad Mydin, Tan Cheng Hoe, Yaakob Syed and Haris Hussain.

Datuk David Choong was president in 1962 when Penang made the FAM Cup final, but lost 3-4 to Selangor in a pulsating contest on May 12 before a capacity crowd at the City Stadium.

In October 1963, Penang trounced Perlis 13-0 in a Malaysia Cup tie at the City Stadium.

Aziz took over as captain when Cheng Eng retired. The early 1960s also saw a glittering array of "stars".

By 1965, veterans such as Siang Teik and Aziz made way as Penang rebuilt. M. Kuppan took over as captain with Yeap Kim Hock, James Raju and Ibrahim Mydin the only other survivors.

For the first time, Penang also preferred the services of four Australians from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) which participated in the local league. They were John Leather, Clive Warren, Vic Probert and Alan Peacock.

The late 60s saw the emergence of Aziz's nephews, the Abdullah brothers—Namat and Shaharuddin. At his peak, Shaharuddin was a prolific goal-getter.

Penang made the Malaysia Cup final in 1968 to face mighty Selangor but nobody expected it to be a massacre. Selangor romped home 8-1 in one of the most one-sided finals ever.

In 1974, Penang heroically knocked Singapore out in the semifinal to face northern rival Perak in the final. Namat Abdullah led Penang to a 2-1 victory in what was to be the state's last Malaysia Cup final victory. Penang stepped into the final of Malaysia Cup on 1977 as they lost the match to Singapore.

Stagnation (1980s-Mid 1990s)

Football Association of Malaysia introduced the Malaysia First Division League on 1982. Penang was one of the founding members of the league. The first edition of the league saw Penang become the champion. On year 1983, Penang was the first runner-up of the league. After that, the team faced stagnation until mid 1990s because failed to win any major trophy.

Resurgence (Late 1990s-Early 2000s)

The glory days came after the team faced the stagnation period for more than 15 years. Penang enter into the FA Cup final for the first time in the team history on 1997 and they lost to Selangor. After the disappointment, Penang won the 1998 Malaysia Super League. The team failed to defend the champion as they only manage to get runner-up on 1999. The 2000 FA Cup saw Penang lost to Terengganu after a nail-biting penalty shootouts. Penang was the runner-up of the top division league on 2000. After two consecutive years as the runner-up of Malaysia Super League, Penang become the champion of the league on 2001. Penang FA historically won the FA Cup for the first time on 2002 thanks to the goal scored by Gustavo Romero on the 65 minutes. Penang first attempt into the Charity Shield saw the team won the trophy after they beat Selangor.

Walking downhill and financial crisis (2003-2009)

Although the team got a good start by winning the Charity Shield, but the team only finished mid table in the league and in round two of the FA Cup. Penang finished third in the group stage of the Malaysia Cup and failed to qualify for the second round. In 2004, Penang ranked fifth out of 8 in the league and eliminated in the second round of FA Cup. Yunus Alif's boys won the group stage of Malaysia Cup but lost in second round. The league performance in 2006 is worse than 2005 as the team only ranked sixth. Penang won the first round of FA Cup, but they faild to qualify for the third round. They top the group of Malaysia Cup for two consecutive years but still can't advanced for the third round after losing the second round matches. The next season saw Penang ranked sixth again in the league and lost the first round match of FA Cup. The team lost the quarter final matches of Malaysia Cup. In 2006/07 season of Malaysia Super League, the team ranked tenth throughout the league. Penang finished the journey of FA Cup in round one. Penang finished fifth out of six in the Malaysia Cup group stage. New coach, Mohd Bakar was appointed to replace Josef Herel in the 07/08 season. The Panthers finished 12nd in the league, round two in FA Cup and last in the Malaysia Cup group stage. For the same season until 2012, the club was facing a critical financial condition. The state’s footballers had not been paid for four months, and called on the current administration to honour the contracts signed with players. In 2009, Penang FA finished third from the last in the top division league. Penang was knocked out from the FA Cup in round two for two consecutive years. Penang was eliminated from the Malaysia Cup tournament after finished third in the group stage.

Darkest period (2010-2012)

In 2010, the darkest period ever in the team history has came. Reduan Abdullah's squad had only collected 10 points and finished at the bottom of the league. Penang was relegated from the top flight after 18 consecutive spells in the top flight of Malaysian football. The club continued to decline and in 2011 the worst fears were reached when they were relegated to FAM League after the team struggled in the second division with only collected 4 points after 22 matches. Janos Krecska was appointed as coach in 2012. The team finished mid table in the third tier end of the year.

The Comeback (2013-2015)

Penang FA's legend, Merzagua Abderrazak take over as the club head coach in 2013. The aim of the club which was to promote to Premier League achieved successfully under the tactician. Penang won a silverware after an 11 years long wait. However, they may have to leave their talismanic Moroccan coach Merzagua Abderrazzak because he needs to obtain an A-level coaching licence in his home country to be able to continue coaching.

Due to the problem, the club appointed K. Devan as the new head coach. Under his guidance Penang claimed the third spot of the Premier League and qualified into Malaysia Cup after absent for four years. Penang finished last place in the group stage with four points after six matches. K. Devan's contract has not renewed and he was signed by Negeri Sembilan.

Jacksen F. Tiago took over K. Devan as the head coach of Penang for the next season. His skills and strategies to be somehow a success to the squad when showing good performance facing with major teams in the pre-season match; Sime Darby, Johor Darul Takzim, Perak, Selangor, Kelantan. The most notable is the match versus Selangor and Kelantan which ends with the score of 2-0 favouring the home team. Penang also stepped into the quarter final of FA Cup after 13 years.

Crest and Colours

Crest

Since the club's foundation on year 1921, the club have had only one main crest. The backgrounds colours of the club crest are blue and white.

Colours

Penang FA's traditional home colours are sky blue and yellow which are taken from the colours of the Penang state flag. Ultramarine have also been used severally. Traditional away kit colours have been either yellow or white. However, in recent years several different colours have been used, such as: green, pink and orange.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt partner
2000 Umbro Pensonic
2001-2003 Toray Pen-Group
2004-2005
2006-2007 Line 7 E&O
2008-2009 Specs No Sponsor
2010 Joma
2011 Eutag
2012 Joma Allianz University College of Medical Science
2013 Media Hiburan
2014 Umbro Aspen Group
2015 PBAPP

Grounds

Home Ground

Stadium Bandar Raya Pulau Pinang
Penang City Stadium
Former names Penang Island National Stadium
(1 October 1945-8 August 2003)
Location George Town
Penang
Malaysia
Owner Penang State Government
Operator Penang Island Municipal Council
Capacity 20,000
Surface Grass pitch
Track
Construction
Broke ground 1 October 1945
Built 1 June 1948
Opened 1 September 1956
Renovated 1 July 1953
Expanded 1 May 1950
Architect British Commonwealth & Government

The Bandaraya Stadium is the current home stadium of Penang FA. The stadium has a capacity of 20,000 people. It was built in 1957, the oldest stadium in Malaysia and initially aims to provide a venue for sports activities from Georgetown, especially as a football pitch.

Previously, Penang FA also use Penang State Stadium in Batu Kawan.

Up to the late 1950s, almost all the big matches were played at Victoria Green, home of the Chinese Recreation Club, before the City Stadium was built in 1956.

Training Ground

The USM Athletics Stadium is the training ground of Penang FA located in the campus of University of Science, Malaysia in Penang. The complex consists of several grass pitches.

Records and Statistics

Shukor Salleh is the player who played for the club for the longest time which is 20 years. He had only played for Penang in his career. He won the National Sportsman award in 1977.

Penang are joint equal with Pahang for having won a total of 14 Malaysian football titles.

Penang are the team who won first inaugural Malaysia League 1982 and FAM Cup 1952.

The club's highest ever league finish was 1st in the Super League in 1982, 1998 and 2001. Their lowest ever league finish was 6th in the 2012 FAM League.

Asian record

0 due to economic trouble in the country.
1 due to club financial problem.

Player Statistics

Club Top Scorer

Finances and ownership

The club is owned by Football Association of Penang under the presidency of Dato' Seri Nazir Ariff Munshir Ariff. The associaton also runs the domestic league of the states. The club was owned by Eastern and Oriental from 2006 to 2007. Allianz University College of Medical Science was the owner and main sponsor for the club on 2012.

The sources of funds are mostly come from the state government. The club also has a variety of other sponsors and partners, which include Aspen Group, Penang Water Supply Corporation, Penang Development Corporation, Kwantus Design and Built, Kany Logistics and Tropicana Ivory . Umbro is the club's kit manufacturer since 2014.

Club officials

Board of Director

Management

Coaching and Technical Staff

Current Squad

First Team Squad

No. Name Nationality Position
Goalkeepers
1 Khairul Amri Salehuddin Malaysia GK
22 Sani Anuar Kamsani Malaysia GK
25 Mohd Remezey Che Ros Malaysia GK
Defenders
3 Mohd Farid Ramli Malaysia LB
4 Reinaldo Lobo Brazil CB,DM
5 Mat Saiful Mohamad Malaysia RB,LB,CB
6 Yong Kuong Yong Malaysia RB,CB,RM,RW,ST
11 Mohd Azrul Ahmad Malaysia RB,RM,RW,ST
16 Darwira Sazan Malaysia CB
18 Mazlizam Mohamad Malaysia LB,RB
19 Mohd Redzuan Suhaidi Malaysia CB
20 Muhd Rafiuddin Rodin Malaysia LB,LM,LW
Midfielders
2 Mafry Balang Malaysia DM,CB
7 Mohd Zharif Hasna Malaysia CM
8 See Kok Luen Malaysia CM,CAM
10 Hilton Moreira Brazil CAM,ST
12 Elias Sulaiman Malaysia CM,RW,LW
13 Mohd Faiz Subri Malaysia CAM,LM,LW,ST
14 Mohd Syukur Saidin Malaysia CM
23 Mohd Redzuan Nawi Malaysia DM,CB
27 Lee Kil-Hoon South Korea CM,AM
17 Mohd Junaidi Shafiai Malaysia CM,AM
Forwards
9 Beto Gonçalves Brazil ST
15 Azinee Taib Malaysia ST,RW,LW
29 Failee Ghazli Malaysia ST

Development Squad

President's Cup squad (U21)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Malaysia GK
2 Malaysia DF R. Kathiravaan
3 Malaysia DF
4 Malaysia DF Abdul Qayyum Mohamed Jabrullah Khan
5 Malaysia DF Mohd Shafiq Safaruddin
6 Malaysia MF Aliff Arief
7 Malaysia MF Muhd Fakhrulrazi
8 Malaysia DF S. Cheevaanesvaran
9 Malaysia FW Mohd Al-Hafiz Harun
10 Malaysia FW
11 Malaysia FW
12 Malaysia DF Mohd Faiz Akmal Zahrul Nizam
13 Malaysia MF
14 Malaysia MF Amirul Syazani Roslan
No. Position Player
15 Malaysia DF Mohd Nabil Fikri Zulkifli
16 Malaysia MF Mohd Fareza Amar Khasim
17 Malaysia MF Tunku Noor Hidayat Tunku Ishak
18 Malaysia DF Muhd Muslim Kamaruddin
19 Malaysia FW J. Kaviarasan
20 Malaysia MF Mohd Ikhmal Ibrahim
21 Malaysia MF Lim Yong Sheng
22 Malaysia GK Mohammad Ikram Hamdan
23 Malaysia DF Tang Seng Chia
24 Malaysia MF Som Keat a/l Preseart
25 Malaysia GK Mohd Azrin Roslan
43 Malaysia MF V. Satheskumar
44 Malaysia FW Muhd Azrul Zulkifli

Source:[1]

Youth's Cup squad (U19)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Malaysia GK Mohammad Fathullah Daniel Mohd Rohan
2 Malaysia DF Mohd Ferdaus Mohd Fauzi
3 Malaysia DF Mohammad Asyraf Rosli
4 Malaysia DF Mohd Syahir Syazwan Sabri
5 Malaysia DF Mohd Tarmizi
6 Malaysia MF Mohammad Alif Aiman
7 Malaysia MF Muhd Huzaifah
8 Malaysia MF
9 Malaysia FW Mohd Nazar
10 Malaysia FW Muhammad Faizudin Afiq
11 Malaysia FW Shahrin Che Hassan
12 Malaysia FW Mohd Faiz Akmal Zahrul Nizam
13 Malaysia DF Mohd Hanif Idris
No. Position Player
14 Malaysia DF Muhammad Aizat Shaharuddin
15 Malaysia MF Muhammad Syahmi Syakir Salim
16 Malaysia MF Muhammad Azam Abdul Halim
17 Malaysia DF Vikneas a/l Ravichandran
18 Malaysia MF Magendran a/l Rajandran
19 Malaysia MF Muhammad Danish Afiq Mohd Desa
20 Malaysia FW Mohd Badrul Amin
21 Malaysia DF Muhammad Helmi Mat Razhi
22 Malaysia GK Muhamad Ariff Razali
23 Malaysia MF Muhammad Fitri Che Hassan
24 Malaysia FW Mohd Faisal Abdul Halim
25 Malaysia GK Muhammad Syafik Noricham

Source:[2] Source:[3]

Managers History

Years Name
2001-2003 Malaysia Irfan Bakti Abu Salim
2003-2004 Malaysia Yunus Alif
2005 Malaysia Norizan Bakar
2006-2007 Slovakia Josef Herel
2008 Malaysia Mohd Bakar
2008-2009 Malaysia S. Veloo
2010 Malaysia Reduan Abdullah
2011 Malaysia Robert Scully
2011 Malaysia Ahmad Yusof
2012 Hungary Jánós Krécská
2013 Morocco Merzagua Abderrazak
2014 Malaysia K. Devan
2015 Brazil Jacksen F. Tiago

Honours

Domestic

Title Winners Runners-up
Division 1/Premier 1/Super League (3x) *1982, 1998, 2001 1983, 1999, 2000 (3x)
Division 2/Premier 2/Premier League 1992 (1x)
Malaysia FAM Cup / League (5x) *1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 2013 1961, 1962, 1968 (3x)
Malaysia Cup(4x) 1953, 1954, 1958, 1974 1934, 1941, 1950, 1952, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1969, 1977 (9x)
Malaysian FA Cup(1x) 2002 1997, 2000 (2x)
Malaysian Charity Shield (1x) 2003

(*inaugural winners)

Youth

Title Winners Runners-up
Malaysia President Cup (1x) 2004

Other

Title Winners Runners-up
Aga Khan Gold Cup(unofficial Asian Champions' Cup)[4] (1x) 1976

References

  1. ↑ "Penang U21". Arena Penang FA. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Penang U19 2015". fapenang.my. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Penang U19 Piala Belia". pengurusanbolasepakfam.org.my. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Penang 1976

External links