Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League

Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League
Country Malaysia Malaysia
Other club(s) from Brunei Brunei, Singapore Singapore
Confederation AFC
Founded 1989 (1989)
Folded 1993 (1993)
Divisions Division I
Division II
Number of teams 18 (from 1992)
Level on pyramid 1-2
Domestic cup(s) Malaysia Cup
FA Cup (from 1990)
Last champions Kedah
(1993)
Most championships Selangor (2 titles)
TV partners RTM
1993 Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League

Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League (MSPFL) or Semi-Pro League was a semi-pro football league in Malaysia that operated from 1989 until 1993. The league was managed by Football Association of Malaysia. MSPFL was official established in 1989 as a semi-pro league competition for football team in Malaysia to qualify for Malaysia Cup.[1]

During its inaugural season in 1989, 17 teams participated in the league divided into two divisions where nine teams were in Division I and eight teams in Division II.[1] Under the new format, only the top six teams in Division I and the Division II champions and runners-up will be involved in the Malaysia Cup.[1] Malaysia Cup was played from the quarter-final stage, scheduled for November after the league was finished. The Malaysia Cup quarter-final and semi-final matches will be played on a home and away basis.[1]

The league was the nation's top-tier league until it was succeeded by the formation of Malaysian first professional football league, the Malaysia Premier League (1994–97) in 1994 by Football Association of Malaysia.

History

Origin

The concept of an annual competition between the states in Malaysia goes back more than 95 years. In 1967 the Malaya Cup was replaced by the Malaysia Cup but the essentially amateur ethos continued until the semi-pro football league was introduced by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in 1979 as a 'halfway house' towards full professional status.[2][3]

This football league competition involving the representative sides of the state football associations was first held in Malaysia in 1979. When it began, it was intended primarily as a qualifying tournament for the final knock-out stages of the Malaysia Cup. It was not until 1982 that a league trophy was introduced to recognise the winners of the preliminary stage as the league champions.[4] Over the years, the league competition has gained important stature in its own right. From 1982 until 1988 the league is an amateur status continue its purpose as qualifying round for Malaysia Cup and only in 1989 it has officially changes to a new format as Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League and was just recognized as Malaysian League.

Semi-Pro league system (1989-1993)

In early days, Malaysian football league system consist of amateur league before the changes in 1989 when it was known fully as the Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League from 1989 to 1993.[1] The formation of MSPFL in 1989 has introduced a two-tier division of football league in Malaysia.

Initially the only teams allowed to participate in the league were the state FA's sides, teams representing the Armed Forces and the Police, and teams representing the neighbouring countries of Singapore and Brunei (though the Football Association of Singapore pulled out of the Malaysian League after the 1994 season following a dispute with the Football Association of Malaysia over gate receipts, and has not been involved since).

In 1989 to 1993, Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League, the football league in Malaysia was divided into two levels:

The inaugural season of MSPFL consisted of nine teams in Division I and eight teams in Division II. The Malaysian Police joined Division II in 1990. Games were played on a home and away basis for about four months roughly between the end of April or early May and the end of August or early September.

For the first season three points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss, but in subsequent seasons this was changed to a 2,1,0 basis. At the end of the League competition the top three placed teams in both Divisions received prize money while two were relegated/promoted and a play off was staged between the eighth placed team in Division I and the third placed team in Division II. The top six teams in Division I and top two in Division II also proceeded to the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup.

1989 season

In its inaugural season, the league consist of teams as below.[1]

Division I: Pahang, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Sarawak, Johor and Selangor.

Division II: Malacca, Armed Forces, Negri Sembilan, Perlis, Terengganu, Brunei, Sabah and Perak.

1992 season

In its fourth season, the league consist of teams as below.[5]

Division I:

Division II:

Champions

Below are the list of the top division semi-pro league champions from 1989 to 1993.[6]

Year Champions
(number of titles)		 Runners-up Third place Leading goalscorer Goals
1989 Selangor Kuala Lumpur Kedah Zainal Abidin Hassan (Selangor)
12
1990 Selangor (2) Singapore Perak Alistair Edwards (Singapore)
13
1991 Johor Pahang Perak Abbas Saad (Johor)
11
1992 Pahang Terengganu Negeri Sembilan Zainal Abidin Hassan (Pahang)
12
1993 Kedah Sarawak Perak Mohd Hashim Mustapha (Kelantan)
13

See also

References

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