2017 Penang FA season

Penang

2017 season
President	Zairil Khir Johari (until 9 October) Gary Nair (interim, from 9 October)
Head Coach	Ashley Westwood (until 19 March) Darren Read (interim, 20 March until 23 March) Zainal Abidin Hassan (from 24 March)
Stadium	Penang State Stadium
Malaysia Super League	12th (relegated)
Malaysia FA Cup	Third round
Malaysia Cup	DNQ
Top goalscorer	League: Nigel Dabinyaba and Sanna Nyassi (3) All: Nigel Dabinyaba (4)
Highest home attendance	18,545 vs Kedah (22 July 2016)
Lowest home attendance	603 vs T-Team (20 September 2017)
Average home league attendance	4,732
Home colours Away colours
← 2016 2018 →

The 2017 season is Penang's 91st competitive season, 2nd consecutive season in the top flight of Malaysian football, and 96th year in existence as a football club. The season covers the period from 1 November 2016 to 31 October 2017.

On 28 November, Ashley Westwood was unveiled as the new head coach of Penang, signing a two-year contract. On 30 November, Penang received RM 4 millions allocation from the state government.

On 1 December, Penang confirmed that Legea will be the official kit manufacturer for three years from 2017. On 5 December, Penang announced it had retained 16 players from last season.^[1] On 22 December, it was announced that on the FA Cup second round, Penang will play at away against MPKB-BRI U-BeS.^[2] On 30 December, it was announced that on the opening day, Penang will kick-off the season at away against Selangor.^[3]

Penang won its first pre-season match, against Felcra FC, which ended in a 2–0 victory. In the following match four days later, Penang won 2–1 against PDRM. On 9 January, Faiz Subri won the 2016 FIFA Puskás Award, becoming the first Asian to win the award. On 13 January, Penang confirmed the signings of Amirul Asyraf Suhaidi, K. Reuben, Yong Kuong Yong, Zulkhairi Zulkeply, Shazalee Ramlee, Nigel Dabinyaba, Diogo Ferreira and Andy Russell. Penang concluded its pre-season campaign with a 0–1 defeat to Nagaworld FC from Cambodia on the same day.^[4] On 18 January, Penang completed the signings of Syed Adney and G. Mahathevan, while Elias Sulaiman and Darwira Sazan were released. Penang lost 0–2 in their opening match against Selangor on 21 January at Selayang. On 27 January, Penang lost again in the league campaign against Perak.

Penang recorded their third and fourth consecutive loss as they lost 0–1 to T-Team at away on 4 February and Sarawak at home on 11 February. Three days later, Penang finally scored the first goal of the season in the FA Cup match against MPKB-BRI U-BeS which was also the first victory of the season. The Panthers failed to arrest their four-match defeat and goalless streaks in the league as they were demolished by Pahang at away with the score 1–6. FIFA Puskas Award winner Faiz Subri ended his year-long goal drought but could not prevent Penang from going down 3–1 to Super League leaders Kedah in Alor Star on 25 February.

Penang picked up their first point of the season after coming from behind to hold Melaka United to a 1–1 draw at the State Stadium on 1 March. 3 days later, Penang recorded another 1–1 draw in Shah Alam against PKNS FC. On 11 March, Penang was knocked out from the FA Cup campaign, losing 1–4 to Negeri Sembilan after extra time in Paroi. The management board mutually terminated the contract of their coach, Ashley Westwood, following a spate of poor results in the M-League. On 24 March, Zainal Abidin Hassan was unveiled as Penang's head coach to replace the former.

After nine attempts, Penang finally achieved their first league victory of the season after defeating Felda United 1–0 at Tun Abdul Razak Stadium on 9 April. However, the panthers failed to continue the momentum, losing 1–5 to Kelantan at home 6 days later. Penang confirmed their absence from the Malaysia Cup for the second consecutive seasons as they lost 1–2 to Johor Darul Ta'zim at home on 26 April.

Despite Nigel Dabinyaba's fourth goal of the season, Penang moved closer to the drop after a 2–1 home defeat to Felda United on 7 May. 8 days later, Penang re-signed Darwira Sazan and Elias Sulaiman, Andy Russell and Diogo Ferreira were released on the same day. On 18 May, Penang confirmed the signings of Azidan Sarudin and R. Surendran from Kuala Lumpur and free Agent respectively. On the next day, former Gambia international, Sanna Nyassi signed with the team. New signing, Nyassi scored a brace in his debut with Penang against Kelantan which ended 2–2 on 24 May.

On 7 June, Penang completed the sixth transfer of the summer transfer window, signing former Sarawak's striker, Mark Hartmann. On the next day, Brandon McDonald signed with Penang, replacing Reinaldo Lobo who is injured.

Penang continued the losing streak, losing 0–2 to the Super League defending champion, Johor Darul Ta'zim at Johor Bahru on 1 July.

On 20 September 2017, Penang has been relegated to second-tier Malaysia Premier League next year. The club's fate has been sealed following the 2–0 home defeat to T-Team.^[5]

Position	Name
Head coach	Zainal Abidin Hassan
Assistant coach	Darren Read
Goalkeeping coach	Lim Chuan Chin
Fitness coach	Noel Augustine
Medical Officer	K. Mathialagan
Physiotherapist	Samuel Coleman
Kit Man	Reza Irwan Khairuddin
	Mohd Fadzly Ahmad
U-21 Team Head Coach	Manzoor Azwira Abdul Wahid
U-19 Team Head Coach	Noraffendi Taib

As of 7 June 2017^[6]

Squad No.	Name	Nationality	Position(s)	Date of Birth (Age)
Goalkeepers
1	Syed Adney Syed Hussein		GK	(1986-11-29) 29 November 1986 (age 37)
22	Sani Anuar Kamsani		GK	(1983-04-05) 5 April 1983 (age 41)
25	Amirul Asyraf Suhaidi		GK	(1994-03-04) 4 March 1994 (age 30)
40	Adam Zairi Fitri Zaini U21		GK	(1998-01-30) 30 January 1998 (age 26)
Defenders
2	Mafry Balang		RB / CB / LB / DM	(1984-03-26) 26 March 1984 (age 40)
3	Darwira Sazan		CB	(1988-08-11) 11 August 1988 (age 36)
4	Brandon McDonald FP		RB / CB / DM	(1986-01-16) 16 January 1986 (age 38)
6	Yong Kuong Yong		RB / CB / LB / CM / RW / CF	(1988-09-18) 18 September 1988 (age 36)
18	Zulkhairi Zulkeply		RB / CB / LB	(1995-05-02) 2 May 1995 (age 29)
19	Mohd Redzuan Suhaidi		CB / LB / DM	(1995-10-06) 6 October 1995 (age 29)
26	Abdul Qayyum		CB	(1995-08-14) 14 August 1995 (age 29)
27	K. Reuben		RB / CB / DM	(1990-04-02) 2 April 1990 (age 34)
30	G. Mahathevan		CB / DM	(1988-05-31) 31 May 1988 (age 36)
—	Reinaldo Lobo NR		CB / DM	(1988-04-05) 5 April 1988 (age 36)
Midfielders
5	Azidan Sarudin		CM	(1986-05-31) 31 May 1986 (age 38)
8	Mohd Syukur Saidin		DM / CM	(1991-11-12) 12 November 1991 (age 32)
11	Mohd Azrul Ahmad		DM / CM / RB / RW / CF	(1985-03-25) 25 March 1985 (age 39)
15	Shazalee Ramlee		DM / CM	(1994-07-02) 2 July 1994 (age 30)
20	Rafiuddin Rodin (Captain)		CM / LB / LW	(1989-08-22) 22 August 1989 (age 35)
29	Elias Sulaiman		CM / AM / LW / CF	(1986-04-29) 29 April 1986 (age 38)
35	Thivandaran a/l Karnan U21		LW/LM	1999
36	Khairul Akmal Rokisham U21		DM/CM	(1998-05-28) 28 May 1998 (age 26)
37	Mohamad Norfais Johari U21		AM/ CM	(1999-03-27) 27 March 1999 (age 25)
Strikers
7	Jafri Firdaus Chew U21		RW / LW / AM / CF	(1997-06-11) 11 June 1997 (age 27)
9	Mark Hartmann FP		CF	(1992-01-20) 20 January 1992 (age 32)
10	Nigel Dabinyaba FP		RW / CF	(1992-10-26) 26 October 1992 (age 31)
12	S. Kumaahran U21		RW / LW / CF	(1996-07-03) 3 July 1996 (age 28)
13	Mohd Faiz Subri		LW / CF	(1987-11-08) 8 November 1987 (age 36)
14	Syamer Kutty Abba U21		RW / LW / CF	(1997-10-01) 1 October 1997 (age 27)
16	Sanna Nyassi		RW / LW / AM / CF	(1989-01-31) 31 January 1989 (age 35)
17	Faizat Ghazli		RW / LW / AM / CF	(1994-11-28) 28 November 1994 (age 29)
21	Failee Ghazli		RW / CF	(1987-09-05) 5 September 1987 (age 37)
23	R. Surendran		AM / CF	(1982-10-26) 26 October 1982 (age 41)

• FP = Foreign player
• U21 = Under-21 player
• NR = Not registered

Winter:

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred From	Source
13 January 2017	FW	Nigel Dabinyaba	Canterbury United FC
13 January 2017	DF	K. Reuben	Kuala Lumpur FA
13 January 2017	DF	Yong Kuong Yong	Terengganu FA
13 January 2017	MF	Shazalee Ramlee	Kuantan FA
13 January 2017	DF	Zulkhairi Zulkeply	UiTM F.C.
13 January 2017	GK	Amirul Asyraf Suhaidi	UiTM F.C.
13 January 2017	MF	Diogo Ferreira	Persib Bandung
13 January 2017	DF	Andrew James Russell	South China AA
18 Jan 2017	DF	G. Mahathevan	Megah Murni F.C.
18 Jan 2017	GK	Syed Adney Syed Hussein	T-Team F.C.

Summer:

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred From	Source
15 May 2017	DF	Darwira Sazan	Free agent
15 May 2017	MF	Elias Sulaiman	Free agent
18 May 2017	MF	Azidan Sarudin	Kuala Lumpur
18 May 2017	FW	R. Surendran	Free agent
19 May 2017	FW	Sanna Nyassi	Free agent
7 June 2017	FW	Mark Hartmann	Free agent
8 June 2017	DF	Brandon McDonald	Rovers FC

Winter:

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred To	Source
1 December 2016	DF	Mohd Fitri Omar	Kedah
1 December 2016	DF	Mazlizam Mohamad	Perlis
1 December 2016	DF	Mohd Farisham Ismail	Kelantan	loan return
1 December 2016	DF	Mat Saiful Mohamad	Retired
1 December 2016	MF	Jeong Seok-min	Released
1 December 2016	MF	Mohd Redzuan Nawi	MISC-MIFA
1 December 2016	MF	Mohd Zharif bin Hasna	Released
1 December 2016	MF	Ikhmal Ibrahim	Sime Darby F.C.
1 December 2016	MF	Matias Córdoba	PS Barito Putera
1 December 2016	MF	Mohd Fauzan Dzulkifli	PKNS FC
1 December 2016	MF	Muhd Nursalam Zainal Abidin	UiTM FC
1 December 2016	FW	Ranti Martins	SGFC Eagles Maryland
1 December 2016	GK	Khairul Amri Salehuddin	Perak
1 December 2016	GK	Mohd Firdaus Muhamad	Melaka United
19 January 2017	MF	Elias Sulaiman	Released
19 January 2017	DF	Darwira Sazan	Released

Summer:

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred To	Source
15 May 2017	DF	Andrew James Russell	Tai Po FC
15 May 2017	MF	Diogo Ferreira	Mohun Bagan AC

Competition	Record
	G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Super League	22	3	3	16	16	43	−27	013.64
FA Cup	2	1	0	1	2	4	−2	050.00
Total	24	4	3	17	18	47	−29	016.67

Updated to match played 28 October 2017
Source: Competitions

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
8	Melaka United	22	6	6	10	33	46	−13	24
9	T–Team (R)	22	7	5	10	30	45	−15	23[a]	Relegation to Premier League
10	Kelantan	22	7	4	11	31	39	−8	22[b]
11	Sarawak (R)	22	5	6	11	24	34	−10	21	Relegation to Premier League
12	Penang (R)	22	3	3	16	16	43	−27	12

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
22	3	3	16	16	43	−27	12	1	1	9	7	21	−14	2	2	7	9	22	−13

  Win   Draw   Loss

  Win   Draw   Loss

N	Pos	Nat.	Player	Super League		FA Cup		Malaysia Cup		Total
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Syed Adney	7	–	1	–	–	–	8	–
2	DF		Mafry Balang	18	–	1	–	–	–	19	–
3	DF		Darwira Sazan	—	–	–	–	–	–	—	–
4	DF		Brandon McDonald	8	–	–	–	–	–	8	–
5	MF		Azidan Sarudin	5(4)	–	–	–	–	–	5(4)	–
6	DF		Yong Kuong Yong	7(2)	–	–	–	–	–	7(2)	–
7	FW		Jafri Chew	7(5)	1	–	–	–	–	7(5)	1
8	MF		Syukur Saidin	5(3)	1	2	–	–	–	7(3)	1
9	FW		Mark Hartmann	7(1)	2	–	–	–	–	7(1)	2
10	FW		Nigel Dabinyaba	16(1)	3	2	1	–	–	18(1)	4
11	MF		Mohd Azrul Ahmad	12(4)	–	–	–	–	–	12(4)	–
12	FW		S. Kumaahran	16(2)	2	2	–	–	–	18(2)	2
13	FW		Mohd Faiz Subri	10(10)	2	1(1)	–	–	–	11(11)	2
14	FW		Syamer Kutty Abba	20(1)	–	1(1)	–	–	–	21(2)	–
15	MF		Shazalee Ramlee	0(1)	–	–	–	–	–	0(1)	–
16	FW		Sanna Nyassi	8	3	–	–	–	–	8	3
17	FW		Faizat Ghazli	12(4)	–	2	–	–	–	14(4)	–
18	DF		Zulkhairi Zulkeply	9(3)	–	0(1)	–	–	–	9(4)	–
19	DF		Redzuan Suhaidi	4(5)	–	–	–	–	–	4(5)	–
20	MF		Rafiuddin Rodin	13(1)	1	1	–	–	–	14(1)	1
21	FW		Failee Ghazli	1(2)	–	–	–	–	–	1(2)	–
22	GK		Sani Anuar Kamsani	8(1)	–	1	–	–	–	9(1)	–
23	FW		R. Surendran	0(3)	–	–	–	–	–	0(3)	–
25	GK		Amirul Asyraf	7(1)	–	–	–	–	–	7(1)	–
26	DF		Abdul Qayyum	—	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
27	DF		K. Reuben	12(2)	–	2	–	–	–	14(2)	–
30	DF		G. Mahathevan	3	–	1	–	–	–	4	–
35	MF		S. Thivandaran	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
36	MF		Khairul Akmal Rokisham	3(3)	–	–	–	–	–	3(3)	–
37	MF		Nurfais Johari	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
40	GK		Adam Zairi Fitri	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
–	DF		Reinaldo Lobo	9	1	2	1	–	–	11	2
Players who left the club in May transfer window or on loan
5	MF		D. Ferreira	7	–	1	–	–	–	8	–
23	DF		Andy Russell	8	–	2	–	–	–	10	–

The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.

Rnk	Pos	No.	Player	Super League	FA Cup	Malaysia Cup	Total
1	FW	10	Nigel Dabinyaba	3	1	–	4
2	FW	16	Sanna Nyassi	3	0	–	3
3	DF	4	Reinaldo Lobo	1	1	–	2
	FW	9	Mark Hartmann	2	0	–	2
	FW	12	S. Kumaahran	2	0	–	2
	FW	13	Mohd Faiz Subri	2	0	–	2
7	FW	7	Jafri Chew	1	0	–	1
	MF	8	Mohd Syukur Saidin	1	0	–	1
	DF	20	Rafiuddin Rodin	1	0	–	1
Own goal				0	0	–	1
Total				16	2	–	18

The list is sorted by shirt number when total clean sheets are equal.

Rnk	No.	Player	Super League	FA Cup	Malaysia Cup	Total
1	22	Sani Anuar	1	1	–	2
2	25	Amirul Asyraf	1	0	–	1
3	1	Syed Adney	0	0	–	0
Total			2	1	–	3

N	P	Nat.	Name	Super League			FA Cup			Malaysia Cup			Total			Notes
11	MF		Mohd Azrul Ahmad	3		1							3		1
2	MF		Mafry Balang	1		1							1		1
20	DF		Rafiuddin Rodin	3			1						4
14	FW		Syamer Kutty Abba	3									3
17	FW		Faizat Ghazli	2			1						3
18	DF		Zulkhairi Zulkeply	3									3
5	MF		D. Ferreira	2									2
7	FW		Jafri Chew	2									2
27	MF		K. Reuben	2									2
5	MF		Azidan Sarudin	1									1
8	MF		Syukur Saidin	1									1
10	FW		Nigel Dabinyaba	1									1
12	FW		S. Kumaahran	1									1
16	FW		Sanna Nyassi	1									1

Last updated: 28 October 2017.
Source: Matches
Only competitive matches
= Number of bookings; = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card; = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.

• 1 point and 3 points are allocated to each yellow card and red card respectively for ranking purposes.

Games played	24 (22 Super League, 2 FA Cup)
Games won	4 (3 Super League, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn	3 (3 Super League)
Games lost	17 (16 Super League, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored	18 (16 Super League, 2 FA Cup)
Goals conceded	47 (43 Super League, 4 FA Cup)
Goal difference	—29 (—27 Super League, —2 FA Cup)
Clean sheets	3 (2 Super League, 1 FA Cup)
Yellow cards	28 (26 Super League, 2 FA Cup)
Red cards	2 (2 Super League)
Most appearances	Syamer Kutty Abba (23 Appearances)
Top scorer	Nigel Dabinyaba (4 goals)
Winning Percentage	Overall: 4/24 (16.66%)