JOHOR BARU: The state government has declared Sunday an occasional public holiday to honour Johor Darul Ta'zim's "12th football player" — their loyal fans.
This is as JDT will face Selangor FC in the 2024 FA Cup 2024 final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said, as a gesture of appreciation, the state government, with the consent of the Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, has declared Aug 25 an occasional holiday for the state.
"This public holiday honours the passionate support of JDT's 12th player — the loyal fans who have been integral to JDT's journey," he said in a Facebook posting today.
He also called upon Johoreans to fill the Bukit Jalil stadium in a sea of red and blue this Saturday "while we cheer on our beloved JDT towards defending their FA Cup title".
"Together, we can make history once again!"
Onn Hafiz said JDT's rise to prominence was a testament to years of hard work, resilience and strategic transformation.
JDT's turning point came on Feb 16, 2012, when Tunku Ismail took over as the Johor Football Association president.
His leadership marked the beginning of bold reforms aimed at reshaping Johor football.
In 2013, JDT, also known as the Southern Tigers, made their debut under this new vision, and by the following year, success followed.
The club clinched the Super League title and remarkably maintained its dominance for a decade, securing 10 consecutive championships by 2022.
In 2015, JDT made history by becoming the first East Asian team to win the AFC Cup, solidifying their status as a force in regional football.
The club has continued to break barriers, consistently performing in the AFC Champions League and reaching the knockout stages among Asia's top 16 clubs.
Recently, JDT achieved a significant milestone, ranking ninth place in Asia, a recognition of their impressive performance against the continent's best teams.
Beyond their on-field success, JDT has also enhanced Johor's global reputation through high-profile collaborations with renowned clubs and brands.
"With their consistent excellence domination in footabll and determination, JDT has united the Johorean like never before.
"Fans are encouraged to rally behind the team this Saturday at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, for what could be a historic FA Cup final," said Onn Hafiz.
The Southern Tigers are vying for their third consecutive FA Cup win, having previously lifted the trophy in 2016, 2022, and 2023.