The Johor government has announced Aug 25 as a special event holiday as an appreciation for the support provided by fans of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), which will vie for the FA Cup trophy.

Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the holiday was granted with the consent of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail.

“With the consent of Tunku Mahkota Ismail, the Johor government has announced Aug 25 as a special event holiday in appreciation of the fans who have supported the JDT team throughout its journey to the FA Cup final,” he said in a post on Facebook yesterday.

He said all Johoreans are urged to come and support JDT who meet Selangor in the FA Cup final at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Aug 24.

“I call on all Johoreans to come together this Saturday to cheer and cheer as JDT’s ‘12th player’, we will fill the stadium in a sea of red and blue,” he said.

He said JDT’s victory this time will create a hat-trick of FA Cup wins after lifting the cup two years in a row - in 2022 and 2023.

Club transformation

Onn said JDT has gone through various transformations, reshuffles and successes that started with the appointment of Tunku Mahkota Ismail as Johor FA president on Feb 16, 2012.

“The year 2013 was the year that JDT or Harimau Selatan made its debut under the new transformation initiative, and in the following years, we achieved success after success, starting with winning the Super League and defending the championship for a record 10th consecutive time last year,” he said.

JDT players celebrate after scoring a goal against Malaysia University in the FA Cup quarter-finals on June 29

Onn said JDT did not wait long to make history in 2015 by being the only East Asian team to win the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup and showing consistent improvement in the AFC Champions League.

It also created history by qualifying for the knockout round of the best 16 teams in the AFC.

Onn added that Johoreans can be proud of a club from the state being able to compete with the best clubs in Asia, with its regional no 9 ranking, placing Harimau Selatan on the highest stage.

- Bernama

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