A THREE-YEAR plan to win major honours has come to fruition after Kelantan cemented their place as a new power in Malaysian football by winning their maiden Super League title. Proving that last year's Malaysia Cup triumph -- Kelantan's first major domestic honour -- was no flash-in-the-pan was always going to be difficult but they have certainly done it.
Few are aware that Kelantan only joined mainstream Malaysian football in 1951 and the years in between saw lean pickings.
Kelantan emerged East Zone winners eight times between 1959 to 1971, in the years when the Malaysia Cup was held on a zonal basis.
Only twice did Kelantan reach the Malaysia Cup final -- in 1955 and 1970 -- which came after they won their first silverware, the FAM Cup in 1953.
It was not until 2000 that they lifted another trophy when they won the Premier 2 title but two quick relegations followed and Kelantan found themselves playing in the third-tier FAM League in 2005.
They duly returned to the Premier League, winning the FAM Cup for a second time, before winning promotion to the Super League in 2008.
Their attempt to win a Cup double in 2009 was thwarted by Selangor in the final of the FA Cup and Negri Sembilan in the Malaysia Cup but there was no denying Kelantan in the 2010 Malaysia Cup final when they avenged their defeat to Negri.
After losing this year's FA Cup final to Terengganu, a determination not to let slip another trophy propelled Kelantan to win their remaining two league matches to add a new chapter to their resurgence.
"We are thankful for winning the Super League title for the first time. The league title is an important honour and we have always set it as one of our goals.
"The players have played to their best of ability all-season long and we have gone through many trials and tribulations to reach this point.
"Our three-year effort to reach the summit of Malaysian football has finally proved successful," said Kelantan FA president Tan Sri Annuar Musa after Kelantan beat Sabah 2-1 at Likas Stadium on Wednesday.
A huge part of Kelantan's success this year is down to coach M. Karathu, who celebrated a league title win for the first time in his career.
After losing Indra Putra Mahayuddin, Azizi Matt Rose and Norfarhan Mohammad to T-Team, Karathu was able to mould a side capable of challenging for honours and even introduced youngster Izuan Solahuddin to the first team.
The likes of Farisham Ismail and Shakir Shaari have also broken into the national team, which already boasts Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, S. Chanturu and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha.
Only one thing spoilt Kelantan's title celebration when Norsharul, who scored twice against Sabah, missed out on the top scorer's honour after Terengganu's Hadi Yahya scored four goals on the final day to edge Norshahrul 20 goals to 19.
"Missing out on the Golden Boot is disappointing. It was something I had wanted but having lost it, I'll use this to spur me to get it next season. But I'm still glad that we are the league champions," said Norshahrul, who also struck four times in the FA Cup for 23 goals in all competitions.
Kelantan basking in glory as their team are dominating Malaysian football
Having displayed a level of consistency unmatched by any other team this season after losing three key players from last season's squad, Kelantan have truly arrived on the big stage.
Having displayed a level of consistency unmatched by any other team this season after losing three key players from last season's squad, Kelantan have truly arrived on the big stage.
Few are aware that Kelantan only joined mainstream Malaysian football in 1951 and the years in between saw lean pickings.
Kelantan emerged East Zone winners eight times between 1959 to 1971, in the years when the Malaysia Cup was held on a zonal basis.
Only twice did Kelantan reach the Malaysia Cup final -- in 1955 and 1970 -- which came after they won their first silverware, the FAM Cup in 1953.
It was not until 2000 that they lifted another trophy when they won the Premier 2 title but two quick relegations followed and Kelantan found themselves playing in the third-tier FAM League in 2005.
They duly returned to the Premier League, winning the FAM Cup for a second time, before winning promotion to the Super League in 2008.
Their attempt to win a Cup double in 2009 was thwarted by Selangor in the final of the FA Cup and Negri Sembilan in the Malaysia Cup but there was no denying Kelantan in the 2010 Malaysia Cup final when they avenged their defeat to Negri.
After losing this year's FA Cup final to Terengganu, a determination not to let slip another trophy propelled Kelantan to win their remaining two league matches to add a new chapter to their resurgence.
"We are thankful for winning the Super League title for the first time. The league title is an important honour and we have always set it as one of our goals.
"The players have played to their best of ability all-season long and we have gone through many trials and tribulations to reach this point.
"Our three-year effort to reach the summit of Malaysian football has finally proved successful," said Kelantan FA president Tan Sri Annuar Musa after Kelantan beat Sabah 2-1 at Likas Stadium on Wednesday.
A huge part of Kelantan's success this year is down to coach M. Karathu, who celebrated a league title win for the first time in his career.
After losing Indra Putra Mahayuddin, Azizi Matt Rose and Norfarhan Mohammad to T-Team, Karathu was able to mould a side capable of challenging for honours and even introduced youngster Izuan Solahuddin to the first team.
The likes of Farisham Ismail and Shakir Shaari have also broken into the national team, which already boasts Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, S. Chanturu and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha.
Only one thing spoilt Kelantan's title celebration when Norsharul, who scored twice against Sabah, missed out on the top scorer's honour after Terengganu's Hadi Yahya scored four goals on the final day to edge Norshahrul 20 goals to 19.
"Missing out on the Golden Boot is disappointing. It was something I had wanted but having lost it, I'll use this to spur me to get it next season. But I'm still glad that we are the league champions," said Norshahrul, who also struck four times in the FA Cup for 23 goals in all competitions.
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