KUALA LUMPUR — The Super League season is only nine matches in, yet several teams are already grappling with serious financial problems, with Kedah Darul Aman FC the latest to face this crisis.
The situation hit a breaking point when senior players boycotted the team over unpaid wages since the start of the season.
As a result, Kedah’s coach, Nafuzi Zain, was forced to field an entire under-23 squad in their recent match against Kuala Lumpur City at the Cheras Stadium, which saw them being thrashed 5-0, laying bare the financial instability plaguing the Green and Yellow side.
Adding to the irony, KDA is currently managed by Tan Sri Mohd Daud Bakar, who is not only one of the world’s top 10 Islamic finance scholars according to the Global Islamic Finance Report 2015 but also the recipient of the Royal Islamic Finance Award for 2022.
Despite his financial acumen, the club is struggling to stay afloat, a far cry from their glory days as three-time Super League champion.
This dilemma begs the question: should another wealthy benefactor, especially from Kedah, step up to provide a crucial lifeline for the ailing team?
One potential saviour is Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, a Kedah native and Malaysia’s 15th richest person, with a net worth of USD1.3 billion (RM5.5 billion), according to Forbes. In 2016, Kedah had even sought sponsorship from this billionaire.
Local sports analyst Datuk Pekan Ramli told Scoop that while support from wealthy individuals could help, it would not solve the underlying issues.
“In my view, bringing in another billionaire is not a definitive solution. You have to understand that they are also businessmen, and as such, they will only invest in ventures they believe will be profitable.
“The Malaysian League doesn’t work that way. There’s a high risk of investments being wasted. While their presence could address unpaid wages, the real challenge is sustaining the team through ongoing problems.
“I believe the best course of action would be for the Chief Minister of Kedah, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, to sit down with the top management of KDA and address the unpaid salaries.
“As president of the Kedah Football Association (KFA), this is a pressing issue he needs to resolve,” said Pekan.
If this situation persists, Kedah could risk disappearing from the Malaysian League, much like Kelantan, Melaka, and Perlis before them.
Kedah currently sits 11th in the Super League standings, with only 8 points to their name.
Their next match is against Sri Pahang at Stadium Darul Aman in Alor Setar this Friday. — September 18, 2024