Mid-Season Report: Johor Darul Ta'zim

Back-to-back champions. The most dominant team in the short history of the MPFL. Johor Darul Ta'zim arrived in 2026 as the standard against which every other side measured themselves, and through the first two circuits, they looked every bit as formidable. Nine circuits into the calendar, Joao Almeida's side have slipped to third, but written off they should not be.

The draw with Pahang Rangers in Circuit 1, 3-3 in a match JDT led, was a hint that this season would be more competitive than the last two. The first real blow came in Circuit 3, when Selangor beat them 5-3, a defeat JDT responded to in the best possible fashion with a 10-1 rout of PFA Odin on the same weekend.

Bruno Taffy, when fit, remains one of the most complete players in the league. Seven goals this season before injury struck, and a presence that opposition coaches continue to build their game plans around.

Andresito stepped forward to lead the attack in Taffy's absence in Circuit 4, and he has accumulated nine goals and two MVP awards. Mahadir Harahap showed his quality in Circuit 3 with a hat-trick against PFA Odin, and Awalludin Mat Nawi has provided goals and energy throughout.

Sixteen points from seven matches keeps JDT three behind Pahang and five behind Selangor. The carnival format means there are five circuits still to play, and JDT's quality is not in question. What Joao Almeida needs now is consistency, and a fit Bruno Taffy back on the court. When both arrive together, the title race will look very different.