Sarawak United F.C.

Sarawak United FC

Full name	Sarawak United Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Golden Hornbill
Founded	1974;47 years ago (1974) (as Malaysia Malays' Football Association) 2017;4 years ago (2017) (as Selangor Malays' Football Association) 2018;3 years ago (2018) (as Selangor United) 2020;1 year ago (2020) (as Sarawak United)
Ground	Sarawak Stadium
Capacity	40,000
Owner	Football Association of Sarawak
Manager	Hamzah Brahim
Head coach	E. Elavarasan
League	Malaysia Premier League
2020	10th
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Sarawak United Football Club is a Malaysian football club based in Kuching, Sarawak. The club currently play in the second-tier division in Malaysian football, the Malaysia Premier League. Formerly known as Selangor United, Selangor Malays' Football Association and Malaysia Malays' Football Association, the club changed its name to Sarawak United in 2020 after the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) bought over the ownership of the club in 2019. ^[1] Before being rebranded as Sarawak United, the team used to be based in Sungai Besar, which is the principal town of Sabak Bernam district in Selangor. ^[2]

Founded in 1974 as the Malaysia Malays' Football Association football team, the club changed its name to Selangor Malays' Football Association football team when competing in the 2017 Malaysia FAM League season. ^[3] They were rebranded again as Selangor United for the 2018 Malaysia FAM Cup season. ^[4] Unfortunately, Selangor United did not last long in the game as the team faced financial difficulties. In 2019, the club was bought over by the FAS. ^[1] and the new owners subsequently rebranded the club as Sarawak United.

With FAS buying and rebranding the team, the move was a win-win situation for FAS, because thanks to the move, FAS has made sure that a team representing the Malaysian state of Sarawak is playing in the 2020 Malaysia Premier League. All that happened after the main football team run by FAS to compete in the Malaysia Premier League at the time, known as the Sarawak FA state football team, were relegated to the Malaysian third-tier division, the Malaysia M3 League in 2019. ^{[5] [6]} In 2020, the Malaysia Premier League however saw the participation of two Sarawak-based football clubs with Kuching City being promoted to the Malaysia Premier League that year.

History

2016 season

• Malaysia Malays' Football Association (MMFA) entered the Malaysian football league competition in 2016 season. ^[7]
• The team is managed by the Selangor Malays' Football Association, an affiliate of Malaysia Malays' Football Association. The team finished 2016 season in seventh place.

2017 season

• Starting from 2017 season, the team has been rebranded to Selangor Malays' Football Association as an effort to bring in local area support. ^[3] The club has managed advanced to second round of 2017 Malaysia FA Cup after defeating SAMB. ^{[8] [9]}
• However, they were knocked out from the tournament after a defeat of 0-3 against Perak. ^[10]

2018 season

• They were re-branded again as Selangor United in 2018. ^[4] The club succeeded in winning the semi-final in the knock-out stage of the 2018 Malaysia FAM Cup, and were promoted to Premier League as finalists, even though they were beaten in the final 0-2 by Terengganu City.

A line-up of the team seen wearing their home colours, during the time when they participated in the Malaysia football league as Selangor United in 2018.

2019 season

• The club made their debut into professional football for the 2019 Malaysia Premier League, the second-tier professional football league in Malaysia. They finished 9th in the league by the end of the season.
• In the December 2019, the club were bought over by the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) after the Selangor Malays Football Association stop receiving fund from the Selangor State government and were forced to get rid of the team. ^[11]

2020 season

• After Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) took over the club ownership at the end of 2019, the club was renamed to Sarawak United Football Club (SUFC) for the 2020 Malaysia Premier League season and relocated their management operations to Kuching, Sarawak. ^[12]

A line-up of the team seen wearing their home colours, during their first ever season participating in the Malaysia football league as Sarawak United in 2020.

Crest and colours

For the 2021 Malaysia Premier League season, the team's outfield players wear black shirts, red shorts and red socks for the club's home matches.

Crest

Before being bought by the Sarawak FA and while the club while was still known as Selangor United, the team used the colours of the Malaysian state of Selangor which is red and yellow with a touch of white added in to their crest. After being bought by the Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) in 2019, the team which during the time was already known as Sarawak United uses a crest which was seen as a modified version of the FAS crest for the 2020 Malaysia Premier League season. However, in 2021, Sarawak United changed the team's crest to the current one which was more reflective of the ethnic characteristics of Sarawak although the Golden Hornbill remains the team's symbol of choice.

• 
  Malaysia Malays' Football Association crest
• 
  Selangor Malays' Football Association crest
• 
  Selangor United crest
• 
  Sarawak United crest in 2020
• 
  Current Sarawak United crest

Stadium and locations

Coordinates	Location	Stadium	Capacity	Year
4°39′54.73″N100°59′27.39″E / 4.6652028°N 100.9909417°E / 4.6652028; 100.9909417	Sungai Besar	Sungai Besar Stadium	15,000	2017
3°15′17.76″N101°39′25.93″E / 3.2549333°N 101.6572028°E / 3.2549333; 101.6572028	Selayang	Selayang Stadium	11,098	2018 - 2019
	Kuching	State Stadium	26,000	2020

Club records

Updated on 27 September 2019.

Note:

• Pld = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = Lost, F = Goals for, A = Goals against, D = Goal difference, Pts= Points, Pos = Position

  1st or Champions  2nd or Runner-up  3rd place  Promotion  Relegation

Season	League										Cup			Asia
	Division	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	D	Pts	Pos	Charity	Malaysia	Challenge	FA	Competition	Result
2016	FAM League	14	3	3	8	12	25	-13	12	7th Group B	–	Not qualified	–	–	–	–
2017	FAM League	12	2	2	8	11	19	-8	8	6th Group	–	Not qualified	–	First round	–	–
2018	FAM League	15	8	3	4	26	18	-8	26	2nd	–	Not qualified	–	First round	–	–
2019	Malaysia Premier League	20	6	3	11	24	37	-13	21	9th	–	Not qualified	Group stage	Second round	–	–

Club top scorer (since professional era)

Players who scored 5 or more goals are listed.

Season	Player	Goals
2018	Yusaini Hafiz	7
2019	Hywang Sin-young	5

Players

First-team squad

Source: ^[13]

As of 10 June 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   MAS Sharbinee Allawee 2 DF   MAS K. Reuben 4 DF   AUS Taylor Regan (captain) 5 DF   MAS Rahman Ismawi 6 MF   MAS Zahril Azri 7 MF   MAS Shamie Iszuan 8 DF   MAS Tommy Mawat Bada 9 FW   MAS Norshahrul Idlan 10 FW   BRA Sandro 11 FW   MAS Ashri Chuchu 12 DF   MAS Khair Jones 13 DF   MAS Badrul Affendy 15 MF   KOR Lee Chang-hoon

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF   MAS Stuart Wark 17 MF   MAS Nor Azizi Ramlee 18 MF   MAS Mathias Mansor 19 MF   MAS Christie Jayaseelan 20 GK   MAS Shaiful Wazizi 21 FW   NGA Uche Agba 22 FW   MAS Zahrul Nizwan 23 MF   MAS Veenod Subramaniam 24 MF   MAS Gopi Rizqi 25 GK   MAS Haziq Aris 26 DF   MAS Amer Saidin 27 FW   MAS Chanthuru Suppiah 77 FW   MAS Rahim Razak 92 MF   MAS Sabri Sahar (on loan from Sabah) 97 MF   MAS Azman Chuchu

Development squads

As of 10 June 2020

U21 squad

No.	Name	Nationality	Position(s)	D.O.B
Goalkeepers
1	Aquila Abdul Rhaman		GK	2000
18	Anthony Ibong Bauk		GK	27/3/01
19	Mohd Shahyudin Mohd Salehin		GK	19/4/00
23	Khairul Lukman Hakim Hairudin		GK	2000
Defenders
2	Sebatian Darvin Jemat		RB, RWB	2000
3	Porni Sanat		LB, LWB	2000
5	Muhammad Fareez Aiman Omar Ali		CB	2000
22	Darius Maidonny Tingang		CB	2000
24	Asnawi Ishak		RB, LWB	2000
25	Dicky Vester Ngindang		LB, LWB	2000
26	Joehansen Ambas Ambun		CB	2001
29	Gibson Billy		CB	13/1/00
30	Abbel Akwensivie		CB	2000
Midfielders
4	Iskandar Shah Mohd Jamil Kilin		CM	2000
6	Abang Azri Fikri Abang Saufee		DM/CM	2000
8	Muhammad Yusry Haziq Idris		RW/RM	18/1/02
12	Norman Angkun		LW/LM	2001
15	Abang Ahmad Eizhan Abang Kassim		CM	2000
16	Aiman Joanny		LW/LM	2001
17	Hazroy Abdullah		AM/CM	2000
20	Hidayathullah Hasli		RW/RM	2000
27	Rosziele Roba		CM	2000
Forwards
7	Mohd Firdaus Sajali		ST	2000
9	Muhammad Dzul Ikram Rajeli		ST	2000
10	Alphonsus Joseph Willie		ST	2000
11	Hamirul Haidi Haida		ST/LW	2000
13	Muhammad Faris Abdul Manaf		ST	5/11/99
21	Mohd Amahrol Haili		ST	2000

Source: ^[14]

U19 squad

No.	Name	Nationality	Position(s)	D.O.B
Goalkeepers
1	Bellynie Allister Balawan		GK	2001
22	Awang Nur Amirul Taqwa Awang Nor Azeman		GK	2002
25	Elvison Pedari		GK	2001
30	Vincent Sigar Yahaya		GK	2002
Defenders
2	Steve Selutan Sakai		RB/RWB	23/1/01
3	Glady Ester George		LB/LWB	2002
4	Nail As'ad Nadzar		CB	2002
5	Andrye Joe Austine		CB	2001
7	Albertine Indera		LB, LWB	2001
14	Mirza Aiman Salleh		CB	2002
15	Gabriel Batistuta Durling		CB	2001
16	Nicky Flockhart Sempuh		RB, RWB	2002
23	Nasrull Zikri Nadzar		LB, LWB	2001
Midfielders
8	Gideon Apoi Ganang		CM	2002
9	Mohd Hazazi Harsi		LW/LM	2002
10	Muhammad Fahmi Aimanuddin Taip		AM/CM	2002
13	Shane Thomas Baru		RW/RM	2001
18	Samuel Kuta Antas		LW/LM	2002
19	David Sepetok		CM	17/5/02
28	Chong Aik King		RW/RM	2001
29	Robie Uvat Robert		CM	2002
Forwards
6	Azkaharridhi Farhan Hasnan		ST	2001
11	Hilary Henry		ST	2002
17	Hazrey Abdullah		ST	2002
20	Calvin Chong Jen Yek		ST	2002
21	Clement Ajai Michael Sap		ST	2001
24	Harith Danielle Abdullah		ST	2002
27	Hudson Osa		ST	2002

Source: ^[15]

Coaches

Years	Name	Achievement
2016	Mohd Ali Khan Abdullah
2017	Zulakbal Abdul Karim
2018–2019	Abdul Talib Sulaiman	2018 Malaysia FAM League runner-up
2020–	E. Elavarasan

Management team

Club personnel

As of 18 March 2020 ^{[update] [16]}

Position	Name
President	Dato Posa Majais
Manager	Hamzah Brahim [17]
Assistant Manager	Abang Fomay Abang Sa'adeli
Technical Director	B. Sathianathan
Head Coach	E. Elavarasan
Assistant Coach	Mohamad Safri Amit
Fitness Coach	Edward Jamid Junting
Team Doctor	Mohd Asri Mohd Rais
Goalkeeper Coach	Omar Salim
	Zailani Abu Bakar
Physiotherapist	Khairul Nizam Suhaimi
	Mohd Safuan Abdul Halim
U21 Manager	Phillip Jabu
U21 Assistant Manager	Abdilah Majid
U21 Head Coach	Ahmad Fairuz Mohd Yunus
U21 Assistant Coach	Faroukh Othman
U21 Fitness Coach	Jefry Lana
U21 Goalkeeper Coach	Jahar Nor
U21 Physiotherapist	Carlvin Stakeith Gary
U19 Manager	Arbi Lai
U19 Assistant Manager	Sonei Sekan
U19 Head Coach	David Usop
U19 Assistant Coach	Pengiran Bala
U19 Coach	Hamri Ali
	Mohamad Ishya Sabu
	Ismail Lumut
U19 Fitness Coach	Fadillah Ibrahim
U19 Goalkeeper Coach	Saller Ampulig
U19 Physiotherapist	Valentino Joummy

Honours

League

• Malaysia FAM League

Runners-up (1): 2018

References

1. Azharie, Farah (2019-12-14). "Selangor 'lose' their name to Sarawak". NST Online. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
2. "Selangor United aims to return back to its roots in 2020". Goal.com.
3. "Keputusan Undian Piala FAM dan Belia 2017". FAM.org.my.
4. "Wajah baru inspiraai Selangor United capai kejayaan". SinarHarian.com.
5. "Kuching welcome participation of Sarawak United in Premier League". Goal.com.
6. "Kuching FA naik pangkat, Sarawak ke Liga M3". BHOnline.
7. "Five new teams make it to FAM League". FootballSentral.com. 31 December 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
8. http://www.mstar.com.my/sukan/bola-sepak/2017/02/05/piala-fa/ Felcra FA, PBMS FC Lepasi Pusingan Pertama Piala FA
9. http://footballmalaysia.com/portal/index.php/2017/02/06/felcra-fc-pbms-fc-sime-darby-fc-layak-ke-pusingan-kedua-piala-fa-2017/ Felcra FC, PBMS FC & Sime Darby FC Layak ke Pusingan Kedua Piala FA 2017
10. http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3889/main/2017/02/16/32732612/pbms-not-perturbed-by-defeat-to-perak-as-they-switches-over PBMS tried their level best but were undone against far stronger opposition in Perak as they exit the 2017 FA Cup.
11. "Sarawak gobble up Selangor United". thestar.com.my.
12. "Selangor 'lose' their name to Sarawak". nst.com.my.
13. "Sarawak United 2020". FAM. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
14. "Sarawak United U21 2020". FAM. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
15. "Sarawak United U19 2020". FAM. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
16. semuanyabola.com. "Diam-Diam Sarawak United Sambar Bekas Penyerang JDT" . Retrieved 18 March 2020.
17. https://suarasarawak.my/. "Sarawak United ke Liga Perdana" . Retrieved 19 March 2020.

External links

• Official Club Facebook Page
• Sarawak Football News site