Edgar Baldasso, on the Brink of Something Special with Selangor

It's been a stellar season so far for Selangor who stand on the brink of something special, the opportunity to go through a whole season winning every game, a feat that's never been achieved before in Malaysia Premier Futsal League history.

Two more games in the final against Pahang stand in their way of a third title after topping the league to be champions in 2022 and 2019.

On both occasions they finished ahead of Pahang, just four points separated them in their most recent victory in 2022 under Brazilian head coach Beto Aranha.

In November 2022 Selangor appointed another Brazilian head coach Edgar Baldasso to spearhead their continued development. His first season in 2023, he brought in Brazilian Matheus Silva and Ali Ibrahimi from Iran but the side finished second in group B behind debutants Johor Darul Ta'zim, level on points but with an inferior goal difference.

Over the next two seasons Baldasso would continue to shape the team in his own style. In 2024 he brought in two Brazilians to fill the foreign places, Wellington Pereira and Matheus Vasconcelos. Vasconcelos however left early in the season and Gabriel Rosa, another Brazilian replaced him. Despite scoring 12 goals in 14 appearances, Selangor again finished runners up behind JDT. Defeats to JDT, Sabah and Pahang ultimately cost them the title.

In 2025, Selangor again found themselves being second best to JDT, this time only three points separated them at the top of the MPFL table. They did inflict the champions only defeat that season, but defeats to JDT and Pahang ultimately saw them come up short.

Ironically, if they would have finished level on points, Selangor who top scored with 94 goals from their 14 games would have won the title on goal difference.

Their two Brazilians that season made a significant contribution to their campaign, scoring 48 goals between them, Vitor Fernandes was the league's top scorer with 29, Evandro Borges chipped in with 19.

Turn to the current season, and the club pulled off arguably the biggest signing the MPFL had witnessed, Brazilian Futsal World Cup winner Marlon. He was a major player for the South Americans on the way to winning the title in Uzbekistan in 2014. He joined Evandro, who was retained for the current season.

Marlon wasted no time in showing what an asset he would be for the club, he scored five on his debut in a 13-0 win over Wipers, another hat-trick followed in the 9-2 win over ATM, and the goals just kept coming.

34 in total prior to the final, only Pahang Rangers' Felipe De Souza with 37 has scored more.

Baldasso has spoken many times this season about the effect Marlon has had on the whole club, playing and training with a World Cup winner obviously has its advantages. Other players have risen to the challenge also, from seasoned campaigners like captain Mohd Khairul to 21-year old Syahir Iqbal who has elevated his performances this season to be one of the hottest properties in the MPFL, he has 18 goals so far and has spearheaded the local contingent in the current season.

Baldasso knows all too well that all the good work that's gone before could be undone if they don't win the title now, Pahang will be tough opponents especially over two legs in the new format.

Selangor will have to win both legs of the final to clinch the title, otherwise things could go right down to the wire with the champion possibly decided on penalties.

The first leg is on Saturday 24th October in Kuantan with a 20.30 kick-off, the second leg a week later in Shah Alam.

You can watch both legs on the MPFLTV channel on Youtube.