2023 Malaysia M4 League

al-ikhsan Cup
DatesJune – October 2023
ChampionsUiTM United
PromotedUiTM United
YP Maintenance
Bunga Raya
Machan
Matches played69
Goals scored232 (3.36 per match)
Top goalscorerArisazri Juhari
(11 goals)
Biggest home win10 goals
JAKIM 10–0 NS Cyberfox
(19 August 2023)
Biggest away win6 goals
NS Cyberfox 0–5 MP Port Dickson
(26 August 2023)
Highest scoring10 goals
JAKIM 10–0 NS Cyberfox
(19 August 2023)
← 2019
All statistics correct as of 7 October 2023.

The 2023 Malaysia M4 League (Malay: Liga M4 Malaysia), also known as the al-Ikhsan Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the second season of the Malaysia M4 League, currently the third tier football league in the Malaysian football league system.[1] This is the first season where the league is held as a single division. The season started on the 3rd of June.

Format

The tournament is played as follows:

  • League level: 15 teams are divided into three zones, namely Zone 1 (6 teams), Zone 2 (5 teams) and Zone 3 (4 teams), each drawn from the Central/South, East and Borneo regions.
    • Round 1 Divided into three zones, each team will play at home and away to determine the position in the group. The top two teams in each zone, including third team in Zones 1 & 2, will advance to the knockout stage.
  • Knockout stage: The knockout stage is the match to determine the winner. Finalists will be promoted to 2024–25 Malaysia M3 League.[2]

Clubs

Below are the list of clubs who will join the 2023 season, based on the status gained from Amateur Football League.

Season changes

To Al-Ikhsan Cup

Withdrawn from the Super League

Relegated from the M3 League

Promoted from the M5 League

  • Negeri Sembilan Bunga Raya - Promoted by 2022 Nogori M5 League quarter-finalist
  • Pahang CF Kuantan City - Promoted by 2022 Kuantan Amateur League runners-up
  • Negeri Sembilan Cyberfox - Promoted by 2022 Nogori M5 League 2 semi-finalist
  • Putrajaya JAKIM - Promoted by winning the 2022 Putrajaya League
  • Selangor MAHSA City - Promoted by the 2022 Mahsa-Kronos M5 League runners-up
  • Negeri Sembilan MP Port Dickson - Promoted by winning the 2022 Nogori M5 League
  • Sarawak Mukah Youth Team - Promoted by the 2022 Ligue M5 Bintulu semi-finalist
  • Selangor Republic of Borneo - Promoted by winning the 2022 Mahsa-Kronos M5 League
  • Pahang YP Maintenance - Promoted by winning 2022 Kuantan Amateur League

Invited team

Name changes

  • Selangor UiTM FC were renamed to UiTM United FC
  • Pahang Cendawan FC were renamed to CF Kuantan City

Notes:

^1 Promoted by the Winning 2022 S-Ligue M5 Sarawak.
^2 Originally relegated from the 2022 Malaysia M3 League, however the teams were not registered to the 2023 Malaysia M4 League due to unknown reasons.

Stadiums and locations

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Bunga Raya Seremban Arena IRC Negeri Sembilan, Bandar Sri Sendayan 800
CF Kuantan City Kuantan Padang MPK 700
NS Cyberfox Nilai Seriemas Sportsplex, Nilai 500
JAKIM Putrajaya MMU Stadium, Cyberjaya 1,500
Machan Petra Jaya, Kuching Padang D, Petra Jaya Sports Complex 700
MAHSA City Jenjarom MAHSA University Mini Stadium 1,000
Maqarize Kota Samarahan UNIMAS Stadium 6,000
MP Port Dickson Port Dickson Padang Merdeka 1,500
Mukah Youth Team Mukah Mukah Stadium 1,500
Real Chukai Chukai, Kemaman Mak Chili Stadium 2,000
Republic of Borneo Sepang UPM Stadium 3,000
Susun Tenaga Resources Sarikei Bintangor Sports Complex 1,000
UiTM United Shah Alam UiTM Stadium 10,000
WTS FC Pasir Mas Pasir Mas Mini Stadium 6,000
YP Maintenance Kuantan UIA Mini Stadium, Kuantan 2,500

Draws

The draw ceremony was held on 25 May 2023, at 15:00 (MST).

Central/South Zone 1
Teams
Bunga Raya
JAKIM
MAHSA City
MP Port Dickson
Republic of Borneo
NS Cyberfox
East Coast Zone 2
Teams
CF Kuantan City
Real Chukai
YP Maintenance
WTS FC
UiTM United
Borneo Zone 3
Teams
Maqarize
Mukah Youth Team
Machan
Susun Tenaga Resources

Personnel and sponsoring

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Sponsor
Bunga Raya Malaysia Gunalan Padathan Malaysia K. Ravindran Kimicom Sakti Sari Sdn Bhd
CF Kuantan City Malaysia Kamarulazlan Pati Malaysia Firdaus Paris Let's Play Performance
Cyberfox Malaysia Syah Juan Malaysia Asmaie Alias Forfeit
JAKIM Malaysia Mohd Nik Malaysia Saiful Rahman
Machan Malaysia Endrew Lawadin Malaysia Paul Sambang Keris Sakti
MAHSA City Malaysia Shaiful Abd Kadir Malaysia Izham Alizan Kronos MAHSA University
Maqarize Malaysia Busrah Ahmad Malaysia Hairol Mokhtar Lotto
MP Port Dickson Malaysia Adnan Mohd Din Malaysia Amirul Asyraf Blackbox
Mukah Youth Malaysia Jamal Wasli Malaysia Iqbal Latip
Real Chukai Malaysia Che Ku Marzuki Malaysia Haidhir Suhaini Voltra University College TATI
Republic of Borneo Malaysia Manchon Andangon Malaysia Camilus David Kimicom Kimicom Network
STR Malaysia Raziman Ramblie Malaysia Awang Jamali Kovra
UiTM United Malaysia Yazli Yahaya Malaysia Adam Afiz Let's Play Performance
WTS FC Malaysia Che Saufi Ibrahim Malaysia Hazeman Abd Karim
YP Maintenance Malaysia Syed Fairul Hakim Malaysia Syawal Norsham Legasi 06 YP Maintenance Sdn Bhd, Sinatra Barbershop, Legasi

Standings

Zone 1 (Central/South)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification MPD BUN JAK MAH ROB CYB
1 MP Port Dickson 10 6 4 0 26 8 +18 22 Advance to Knockout stage 2–0 1–1 0–0 4–1 4–0
2 Bunga Raya 10 6 3 1 32 9 +23 21 Advance to Knockout stage & Promotion to Liga A1 3–3 0–0 4–0 8–1 2–1
3 JAKIM 10 6 2 2 29 8 +21 20 Advance to Knockout stage 1–3 1–2 2–1 4–0 10–0
4 MAHSA City 10 4 2 4 16 16 0 14 1–2 1–1 0–4 5–0 3–2
5 Republic of Borneo 10 1 1 8 10 38 −28 4 Relegated to Liga A3 1–1 0–5 1–4 1–3 3–1
6 NS Cyberfox 10 1 0 9 7 41 −34 3 0–6 0–7 0–2 0–2 3–2
Updated to match(es) played on 26 August 2023. Source: https://cms.fam.org.my/v1/standings
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.

Zone 2 (East Coast)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification YPM UIT WTS KUA REA
1 YP Maintenance 8 5 2 1 14 7 +7 17 Advance to Knockout stage & Promotion to Liga A1 1–1 4–2 0–1 1–0
2 UiTM United 8 4 1 3 14 9 +5 13 0–1 3–1 5–1 1–3
3 WTS FC 8 4 1 3 12 11 +1 13 Advance to Knockout stage 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–0
4 CF Kuantan City 8 2 2 4 7 14 −7 8 Relegated to Liga A3 1–2 0–2 2–1 1–1
5 Real Chukai 8 1 2 5 8 14 −6 5 1–4 1–2 1–2 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 26 August 2023. Source: https://cms.fam.org.my/v1/standings
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.

Zone 3 (Borneo)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification MAC MAQ MYT STR
1 Machan 6 4 2 0 14 4 +10 14 Advance to Knockout stage & Promotion to Liga A1 0–0 2–0 5–1
2 Maqarize 6 2 4 0 8 2 +6 10 Advance to Knockout stage 0–0 5–0 0–0
3 Mukah Youth Team 6 2 0 4 11 12 −1 6 Dissolved next season. 1–2 1–2 4–1
4 Susun Tenaga Resources FC 6 0 2 4 5 20 −15 2 2–5 1–1 0–5
Updated to match(es) played on 19 August 2023. Source: https://cms.fam.org.my/v1/standings
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.

Knockout stage

Bracket

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
Machan 1(6)
WTS FC 1(5)
Machan 0
UiTM United 4
Bunga Raya 1
UiTM United 2
UiTM United 2
YP Maintenance 1
YP Maintenance 1
JAKIM 0
YP Maintenance 2
MP Port Dickson 1
MP Port Dickson 2
Maqarize 0

Quarter-finals

9 September 2023 (2023-09-09) Machan 1−1 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)		 WTS FC Kuching
20:15 UTC+8 Hafiz Abu Bakar 15' Report Khairul Rizam 22' Stadium: Sarawak State Stadium
Attendance: 600
Referee: Ensali Sabang
9 September 2023 (2023-09-09) YP Maintenance 1−0 JAKIM Gambang
16:15 UTC+8 Amir Eimran 81' Report Stadium: SSM Pahang Mini Stadium
Attendance: 112
Referee: Ahmad Hafiz Muhamed
9 September 2023 (2023-09-09) Bunga Raya 1−2 UiTM United Bandar Sri Sendayan
16:15 UTC+8 S. Thipanraj 52' Report Asyraaf Rifqi 58'
Mirza Malik 80'		 Stadium: Padang Arena IRC
Attendance: 20
Referee: Shahmi Ismail
9 September 2023 (2023-09-09) MP Port Dickson 2−0 Maqarize Port Dickson
16:15 UTC+8 Ibrahim Suhaib 45+1'
Al Rifae 90+2' (pen.)		 Report Stadium: Padang Merdeka
Attendance: 60
Referee: Sofi Romli

Semi-finals

22 September 2023 (2023-09-22) Machan 0−4 UiTM United Kuching
15:45 UTC+8 Report
  • Fakhrur Razi 7'
  • Putra Daniel 36'
  • Haikal Haziq 54'
  • Mirza Malik 70'
 Stadium: Sarawak State Stadium
Attendance: 600
Referee: Ensali Sabang a/k Timban
23 September 2023 (2023-09-23) YP Maintenance 2−1 MP Port Dickson Gambang
16:15 UTC+8
Report
  • Ahmad Daniel 39'
 Stadium: SSM Pahang Mini Stadium
Attendance: 217
Referee: Tuan Mohd Faizrullah

Final

UiTM United2−1 (a.e.t.)YP Maintenance
Fakhrur Razi 74' (pen.), 107' (pen.) Report Mohamad Ilham 10' (o.g.)
Attendance: 2868
Referee: Kamil Zakaria Ismail

Champion

Champion

Logo
UiTM United
1st Title

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 7 October 2023
Rank Player Club Goals[3]
1 Malaysia Arisazri Juhari JAKIM 11
2 Malaysia Fakhrur Razi UiTM United 10
Malaysia K. Ravindran Bunga Raya
4 Malaysia Rozaimi Rahman Machan 4
Malaysia Sufizal Ismail Mukah YT
Malaysia Kalaiarasan Murugun Bunga Raya
7 Malaysia Bukhairi Idris MP Port Dickson 6

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Malaysia Izzan Syahmi Real Chukai UiTM United 3-1 (A)[4] 3 June 2023
Malaysia Fakhrur Razi UiTM United WTS 3-1 (H)[5] 24 June 2023
Malaysia Sufizal Ismail4 Mukah YT STR 4-1 (H)[6] 8 July 2023
Malaysia Arisazri Juhari Jakim Republic of Borneo 4-1 (A)[7] 9 July 2023
Malaysia K. Ravindran4 Bunga Raya Republic of Borneo 8-1 (H)[8] 16 July 2023
Malaysia Rozaimi Rahman Machan STR 5-2 (A)[9] 5 August 2023
Malaysia Arisazri Juhari4 Jakim Cyberfox 10-0 (H)[10] 19 August 2023
Malaysia Lokman Hakim Saifuddin Jakim Cyberfox 10-0 (H)[11] 19 August 2023
Notes

4 Player scored 4 goals
5 Player scored 5 goals
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Clean sheets

As of 7 October 2023
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Malaysia Arif Haikal JAKIM 5
2 Malaysia Hafiezulhisyam Roslee Maqarize 4
3 Malaysia Ahmad Uzair Machan 3
4 Malaysia Amirul Aqasha Mahsa City 2
Malaysia Amirul Asyraf MP Port Dickson
Malaysia Moganaram Balakrishnan Bunga Raya
Malaysia Yuaiman Jusoh WTS
7 Malaysia Amar Irfan STR 1
Malaysia Afiq Afandi MP Port Dickson
Malaysia Fikri Amin WTS
Malaysia Raja Amir Shah Mahsa City
Malaysia Shaarveen Segaran Bunga Raya
Malaysia Yusof Akma YPM
Malaysia Zamir Zaini Kuantan City
Malaysia Zulhilmi Rashid Bunga Raya
Malaysia Zubir Zaihan MP Port Dickson

See also

References

  1. ^ "14 State and Social League Organisers Sign Agreement to Join M5 League". Johor Southern Tigers. 24 March 2018. Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  2. ^ "16 pasukan berentap rebut Piala Al-Ikhsan". 25 May 2023.
  3. ^ "FAM - CMS". cms.fam.org.my. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  4. ^ "FAM - CMS".
  5. ^ "FAM - CMS".
  6. ^ "FAM - CMS".
  7. ^ "FAM - CMS".
  8. ^ "FAM - CMS".
  9. ^ "FAM - CMS".
  10. ^ "FAM - CMS".
  11. ^ "FAM - CMS".