.png)
IT is time for local football fans and management to open their eyes wide to emulate Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), which continues to make a name for itself at the Asian level.
The dominance of the Southern Tigers squad for more than a decade in the local premier league, in addition to emerging as the top eight teams in Asia after reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE), is no longer just a narrative of the glory of one team, but a new benchmark that must be emulated by the Malaysian League (M-League) clubs if Malaysia wants to be seen at the international level.
Despite losing 1-2 to Al-Ahli, who has a market value of RM806 million compared to JDT's RM64 million, the match statistics prove that the Southern Tigers squad is not just a complement to the schedule, but has managed to provide a tough challenge to the Saudi Arabian giants at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Against the defending champions, who are lined up with world stars such as Riyad Mahrez, Ivan Toney, and Franck Kessie, JDT showed no fear.
On the other hand, statistics show that Hector Bidoglio's men were actually able to 'teach' the team worth hundreds of millions of ringgit, where the JDT attack machine recorded 11 attempts, surpassing the 10 made by Al-Ahli.
Of that number, the Southern Tigers squad managed to test the efficiency of the opposing goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, with five accurate attempts, while Al-Ahli only made four attempts towards the JDT goal.
In terms of possession of the match, JDT proved that they were able to balance the quality of world-class players, recording 48 per cent of ball possession, only a slight difference from the home team's 52 per cent.
The tactical sharpness and discipline of both teams were also seen to be equal when each obtained five corner kicks, illustrating how quickly the counterattacks were launched throughout the 90 minutes of the game.
Therefore, to other teams in the M League, JDT's success should be seen as an inspiration, not a threat. In fact, the culture of 'envy' and the mentality of bringing each other down will only harm the national football ecosystem.
If we really want to see the Jalur Gemilang flying majestically on the world stage, the league standard needs to be raised comprehensively and not just comfortably at a moderate level.
For the record, JDT is the first Malaysian club to successfully break through the quarter-finals of an elite Asian tournament, thus strengthening their status as the best club in Southeast Asia (ASEAN).
Advancing to the ACLE quarter-finals sees JDT expected to reap handsome rewards of up to US$1.8 million (RM8.5 million), clearly proving that wise investment and professional management will produce a commensurate return, not only in terms of trophies but also the club's economy.
The fact is that JDT is now the true face of modern football in the country. – April 18, 2026
Mohd Fariq
Kuala Lumpur
The observations reflect the writer's personal insights and do not necessarily represent the official stance of The Vibes.com
