Melaka Football Association (MAFA; Malay: Persatuan Bolasepak Melaka) is the governing body of football for the state of Melaka, Malaysia. MAFA is responsible for coordinating and developing football in the state of Melaka and has teamed up with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) as the official governing body of football in Malaysia.
Malacca has sent a football team to play in the Malaya Cup since its inaugural season in 1921.[1] 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).[2] 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.[3][4]
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.[5][6][5]
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.[7][8] 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.
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.[9] Malacca had been in Division II from 1989 to 1992.
↑ 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.
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