JOHOR BARU (15 Jan 2016) – Within a week Johor Darul Takzim’s coffers have swelled to RM100 million and more is expected before the M-League season kicks off next month.
The Southern Tigers received a massive financial boost when club owner and Royal Patron Brigadier General Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim matched his father’s donation of RM50 million when the Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar announced a similar contribution on Jan 10.
On Thursday the Johor Crown Prince officially announced his contribution with a posting on the Southern Tigers facebook through Johor FA president Datuk Ismail Karim, who is also the State Secretary.
Brig Gen Tunku Ismail’s contribution is to strengthen JDT’s financial position apart from developing football talent in the state.
JDT have become the envy of football clubs not only in Malaysia but also in the region.
The Johor outfit are two-time Malaysian Super League champions apart from winning the Charity Shield this year.
However, JDT’s prized possession in the trophy cabinet is the AFC Cup – the only Malaysian team to have won the Asian level tournament. In the final JDT wrote football history with a 1-0 win over Tajikistan’s Istiklol FC in Dushanbe.
JDT’s long list of sponsors include Johor Corp which is the state government’s investment arm, Forest City which is involved in a massive development in Johor Bahru, Berjaya Group plus several other developer in the state.
JDT have gone from strength to strength since Brig Gen Tunku Ismail undertook a massive “football transformation” in the state, including the upgrading of the Larkin Stadium which is popularly known as “This is Larkin” – home of the Southern Tigers.
For the new season JDT have signed up Argentine striker Paulo Rangel to replace Luciano Figueroa who has retired from competitive football.
To further strengthen the team’s administration JDT appointed former Australian international Alistair Edwards who played for Johor from 1991-1992.
