KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu government has decided that only one team will represent the state in next season’s Super League.
With the decision, T-Team, who finished ninth in the Super League last year, will play in the 2018 Premier League pending approval from Football Malaysia LLP (FMLLP).
Only five teams will represent the state in football competitions under FMLLP and the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
Terengganu FC (TFC) I will play in the Super League while T-Team, who will now be known as TFC II, will compete in the Premier League.
TFC III (President’s Cup), TFC IV (Youth Cup) and TFC V (Under-17 Ministry of Education Cup) will play in youth tournaments, organised by FAM.
The decision was made at the Terengganu FA’s (TFA) congress, chaired by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman, on Tuesday.
Razif, who is also TFA president, said the decision was a move to develop football in the state and to reduce expenditure.
“TFC II (T-Team) will be a feeder team to the state side. Only Terengganu-born players will represent TFC II.
“TFC I, under coach Irfan Bakti, will be the only team from the state in the Super League. Irfan’s side will be our elite side,” said Razif.
FMLLP chief executive officer Kevin Ramalingam said TFA have yet to notify him over the decision.
“We will need to look at options after we receive an official notification from TFA,” said Kevin.
Additional reporting by Ajitpal Singh.