The inclusion of the youth team from Malaysian Super League side Johor Darul Takzim in the Ministry of Education League 2017 will inject more excitement into the new season which starts this weekend with the Charity Shield.
The Charity Shield is the season-opener for the Ministry of Education League with SMK Gunung Rapat of Perak entertaining SMK Seberang Temerloh of Pahang at home.
And JDT – represented by their academy at SMK Bukit Indah – is just the latest club side to get into a developmental partnership with the Ministry of Education League following Felda’s (SMK Presint 14 (1) debut last year.
“It is definitely a way forward and I believe that this will only make the Ministry of Education League this year even more competitive,” said Azli Kamal Azami, the head coach of SMK Gunung Rapat.
“We want to start the season on a positive note and hope that we can lift the Charity Shield even though we are up against a team which has the experience of having played the past year together.”
Added Mohamad Sahbudin Mohd Arof, the head coach of SMK Seberang Temerloh: “the pressure is definitely on the home team, so we will be playing our usual game and not defensive at all.
“It will be great if we can start the year by winning the Charity Shield.
“For me personally, I believe that the inclusion of the youth team from JDT will only add more spice to the league. It will definitely be an exciting season in 2017.”
JDT’s SMK Bukit Indah will be playing in both the Under-14 league as well as the Under-17 league.
The U14 league will have 22 teams taking part for a total of 110 matches not including the semi-finals and final matches.
The U17 league will see 18 teams battling it out for 72 games which will see the league this year culminating in the grand final in October.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION LEAGUE 2017
CHARITY SHIELD
FIXTURES
 1 April 2017
 1600hrs: SMK Gunung Rapat (PERAK) vs SMK Seberang Temerloh (PAHANG)
