FOOTBALL fans in Perlis have had little to cheer in the past decade, but Perlis United intend to lift the gloom by becoming the state's standard-bearer in domestic competitions.
There has been nothing to get excited about in the country's northern-most state since the Perlis FA team were engulfed in scandal and disappeared from the scene under an avalanche of debts and unpaid wages in 2019.
Perlis FA, relegated from the Super League in 2011 before spending two seasons in the third-tier, were expelled from the Premier League and remain under sanction by Fifa.
Now, Perlis United have emerged as the state's sole representative in domestic competitions with a team composed almost entirely of local-born players with a sprinkling of experienced heads.
After a slow start to life in the M3 League, Perlis United won their first match on Sunday by beating Kuala Lumpur Rovers 3-2 in Cheras thanks to two penalties by Ikhmal Ibrahim and Sadam Hashim's decisive third goal.
Afiq Azmi, a Malaysia Cup winner with Kelantan in 2012, and Azizi Mat Rose provide some star-studded quality to Perlis United, but it is by stacking the team with local players that coach Azizul Abidin hopes will attract fans to support the club.
Azizul may just get his wish if the attendance at the first home match is anything to go by when 1,100 people turned up at the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium in Kangar on Feb 19 — the biggest crowd so far in the M3 League — despite losing 3-0 to PIB.
"The people of Perlis already consider Perlis United as the state team because there is no other club representing Perlis," said Azizul. "They can be proud of this team because almost all the players were born in Perlis.
"All but one of the 18 players in the match-day squad today come from Perlis. Even the one from Kedah (Rizaqmi Akhta Hashim) went to school in Perlis.
"Our goal is to move up the divisions, but we have to go step-by-step, going game by game.
"We are starting in M3, so we cannot jump ahead.
"We want to improve with every game, even if the improvement is only marginal."
After Rovers defender Juzaerul Jasmi blazed over a penalty in the 10th minute, Ikhmal converted two spot-kicks for Perlis United in the 18th and 34th minutes before Nur Iqmal Harun halved the deficit five minutes from the break with a free-kick.
Sadam's bullet header restored Perlis United's two-goal lead in the 66th minute, and they hung on for the three points despite Asnan Awal Hisham narrowing the gap six minutes later.
"This is the best performance the players have shown so far. We didn't win our first two games because of their eagerness to get those first three points," said Azizul after Perlis United rose to sixth on four points in Group B.
Perlis United return to Cheras today for their FA Cup debut in a first-round match against Premier League side Police when more of their fans should appear than the smattering few in a crowd of 65 people who attended Sunday's game.
"We hope we can give them a fight even though we know Police are from the Premier League and have foreign players," Azizul added.
RESULTS -
Group A: FC Langkawi 0 Malaysian University 0, Armed Forces 0 Kinabalu Jaguar 2, Langkawi City 1 Immigration 2, Tun Razak City 1 Manjung City 1, Ultimate 2 Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan 3.
Group B: Real Chukai 2 Kijang Rangers 1, Bukit Tambun 1 Respect 1, Kuala Lumpur Rovers 2 Perlis United 3, Persada Integriti Bersatu 1 BRM Kuala Kangsar 0, Harini FT 2 Tok Janggut Warriors 0.