Johor Darul Ta’zim to give junior and reserve players their chances in the Malaysia Cup and ASEAN Club Championship

Johor Darul Ta’zim have adopted a club policy of giving junior and reserve players opportunities in the Malaysia Cup and the ASEAN Club Championship, the club said in a statement on 6 October. The senior side’s priorities are the Malaysia Super League, the AFC Champions League and the Malaysia FA Cup.

The statement says the decision followed discussions between the management, the senior team’s coaches and the academy coaches. It presents the move as a way to give young players domestic and international experience and to help Johor Darul Ta’zim get through a schedule of five senior-team tournaments, so as to “keep the players fresh for competition on all fronts”.

The club pointed to its academy’s recent results, above all an Under-21 side that won the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) gold medal and has been President’s Cup champions for four consecutive years. A number of Under-21 and reserve players have been training with the first team, according to the statement. As an example it cites Under-21 forward Muhammad Daniesh Amirruddin, who scored two goals on his debut in a Malaysia FA Cup match against Damansara FC. The statement is signed by the club’s chief executive, Luis Garcia.

Johor Darul Ta’zim top the Malaysia Super League with 15 points from five matches, with 25 goals scored and none conceded. In the Malaysia FA Cup, they won the first leg of their quarter-final 7-2 at Penang FC on 20 September.

The second leg is at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, on 9 October, and Johor Darul Ta’zim visit Pohang Steelers in the AFC Champions League on 13 October.