East Coast teams dominate

Kuala Terengganu: East Coast teams dominate the poll results conducted by Bola Pantai Timur on who respondents think will most likely emerge as MSL champions in 2014. Terengganu top the list (26%) followed by Kelantan (16%) and Pahang (13%). Terengganu is currently lying in the second spot in the MSL table which started on 17 January with the Charity Shield-cum-MSL league game which was won by the Elephants.    Pahang and Kelantan were Malaysia Cup and FA Cup champions respectively last season. Two Terengganu Clubs, Terngganu and T-Team did not do too well last year in the League and are now rebuilding their teams. Surprisingly Terengganu, last year's semi-finalist and 2011 champions did not advance far in the FA Cup this season after their recent 1-2 defeat to PKNS in the second round.   A caveat is in order. Since this blog is East Coast-based, it is likely that most of the respondents are from the three states, with their in-built biases. However the three teams should seriously note their supporters' expectations and compete well so that they eventually gain respectable positions. Even so, other teams including JDT (13%), Selangor (10%) and ATM (10%) also warrant attention as they too have their own strengths and a proud track record in Malaysian football. Seven per cent of the respondents chose another team. All state and club teams which were not listed separately as an option can take comfort from the fact that some respondents believe they too can challenge their more favourite brothers. These include the Super League club teams which have done well enough to qualify for the third round of the FA Cup. LionsXII is the surprised 'omission' as the young side under head coach Fandi Ahmad only draws 2% of the respondents. The ball is round and a poll is just a poll. It is worth noting for people who want to understand their teams and what others think of them better. As always, actual performance is decided on the field.     Q. Who do you think will most likely emerge as the MSL League champion in 2014?
JDT   5 (13%) Lions   1 (2%) Selangor   4 (10%) ATM   4 (10%) Kelantan   6 (15%) Pahang   5 (13%) Terengganu   10 (26%) Another team        3 (7%)