Malacca Football Association

Malacca Football Association
Persatuan Bola Sepak Melaka
Founded1924 (1924) as Malacca Amateur Football Association
PurposeFootball association
HeadquartersWisma MAFA, Kompleks Sukan Hang Jebat, Jalan Padang Bolasepak
Location
Ab Rauf Yusoh
WebsiteWebsite

Malacca Football Association (MAFA; Malay: Persatuan Bolasepak Melaka), officially known as the Melaka Football Association[a] and formerly known as the Malacca Amateur Football Association and its pseudonym or branding of "Melaka United Soccer Association" or "MUSA" from 2014 until 2022,[b] is the governing body of football for the state of Malacca, Malaysia. MAFA is responsible for coordinating and developing football in the state and is affiliated with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) as the national governing body of football in Malaysia.

History

Origins

Malacca has sent a football team to play in the Malaya Cup since its inaugural season in 1921.[3] In 1924, the team has been registered and now managed by the newly formed governance body of Malacca football, the Malacca Amateur Football Association (MAFA).[4] Since then, the football team has been competing in the Malaya Cup and the FAM Cup consistently. MAFA biggest achievement was reaching the FAM Cup final in 1957 and 1958 led by Robert Choe.[5][6]

Amateur football league

In 1979, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) changed the format of the Piala Malaysia, introducing the league stage that acts as the qualifying round.[7][8]

The football league in Malaysia has officially started in 1982, after the introduction of the league winners trophy. It has been known as the Liga Malaysia.[9][10] Malacca football team continued to compete in the league and has become the champion during its second season, the only time the Malacca team has won the top-tier league in Malaysian football.

The era of semi-pro football league

Over the years, the league competition has gained important stature in its own right. From 1982 until 1988 the league has an amateur status and continues its purpose as qualifying round for the Piala Malaysia. In 1989, it is changed to a new format as the Liga Semi-Pro (MSPFL), introduced by FAM as a way towards the fully professional status. The inaugural season of MSPFL consisted of nine teams in Division I, and eight in Division II.[11] Malacca had been in Division II from 1989 to 1992.

Association management

Positions Name
President Ab. Rauf Yusoh[12]
Deputy president Mohd Saiful Mat Sapri
Vice president Khaidirah Abu Zahar
Fadzil A. Bakar
Khairi Anuar Ahmad
Revindran Chitravelu
General secretary Karim Yaacob
Treasurer Yuhaizad Abdullah
Executive committee
members
Mohd Azizi Shahril Abd Razak Khalim
Jezlee Pit
Dr Shankar Gunarasa
Siti Faidul Maisarah Abdullah
Mohd Fairuz Azwad Mohd Zauwawi
Ahmad Khairul Mohd Noor
Melvin Tan Ching Yang
Syahrul Nizam Shamsuddin

Former presidents

Name Period
Md Yunus Husin 2007–2008
Mohd Ali Rustam 2009–2010
Md Yunus Husin 2011–April 2013
Idris Haron April 2013–2018
Adly Zahari 2018–2020
Damian Yeo Shen Li 20 January–20 March 2020
Sulaiman Md Ali 20 March 2020–4 August 2022
Nur Azmi Ahmad 4 August 2022–2 May 2023

Competitions

The Malacca Football Association has organised the following club competitions:

Notable affiliations

All-time clubs in the league competitions affiliated to the Malacca Football Association include:

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The organisation uses the Malay-language spelling of the state's name, as opposed to the more traditional English-language spelling, "Malacca"
  2. ^ The rebranding of the Football Association was initiated by former Chief Minister Idris Haron in August 2013 to rejuvenate the state's football industry and focus on development of the young players.[1] Soccer is an American term for Football. Also, the name would have been "Persatuan Bola Sepak Bersatu Melaka" if translated into Malay. But despite the branding, the association's name in Malay remained unchanged. This brand name was removed in November 2022 under the leadership of then-president Nur Azmi Ahmad, who did not see it as "capable of developing or raising the stature of football in the state".[2]

References

  1. ^ "Persatuan Bola Sepak Melaka Dijenama Semula, Fokus Bangunkan Pemain Muda" [Malacca Football Association to be rebranded, focusing on developing young players]. Mstar. Bernama. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  2. ^ "MUSA to be rebranded MAFA in move to empower Melaka (Malacca) football - Nur Azmi". Bernama. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  3. ^ [1] Malaysia 1921
  4. ^ [2] Malaysia 1921
  5. ^ "Merdeka memories". The Star. 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  6. ^ of Malaysia Cup Malaysia – List of Cup Winners – FA of Malaysia Cup – RSSSF
  7. ^ [3] Malaya Cup 1979
  8. ^ Wilson, Peter; Sim, Benson (1995). "The demand for Semi-Pro League football in Malaysia 1989–91: a panel data approach". Applied Economics. 27: 131–138. doi:10.1080/00036849500000015.
  9. ^ [4] Malaya Cup 1981
  10. ^ [5] Malaysia 1982
  11. ^ [6] Malaysia 1989
  12. ^ "Rauf dilantik Presiden MAFA" [Rauf appointed as MAFA president]. Berita Harian. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.