2017 Myanmar National League
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| Season | 2017 |
|---|---|
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← 2016 2018 → | |
The 2017 Myanmar National League, also known as the 2017 Ooredoo Myanmar National League, is the 8th season of the Myanmar National League, the top Burmese professional league for association football clubs since its founding in 2009. The nation's highest professional football league was shaken up at the end of the 2016 season following a series of surprise announcements by MNL-1 teams Zwegapin United and Zeyar Shwe Myay stating that they were going to drop out of the League in the next season.[1] Also, Manaw Myay announced the team would be disbanded, despite winning promotion to Myanmar’s premier domestic league by finishing the season's MNL-2 from the first place. A committee meeting between the Myanmar Football Federation and Myanmar National League officials held in Yangon on September 10 decided to reverse Southern Myanmar's relegation to MNL-2 in the next season, while Nay Pyi Taw received a surprise promotion into the first-tier league. Facing the loss of three squads and fears of scheduling complications for an 11-team league, MFF officials resolved to allow Southern Myanmar to remain in MNL-1, despite an 11th place finish with only 14 points in the 2016 season. MNL-2 second-place finishers G.F.A, as well as third-place Nay Pyi Taw, were also promoted to the top league to maintain a 12-team schedule.[2]
Although Zwegapin United initially signalled their intention to drop out of contention on August 22, team owner U Hla Htay later reversed his decision and announced that his team would continue to compete in the MNL-1, with preparations under progress for a home stadium in Hpa-An.
Teams
A total of 12 teams are competing in the 2017 season: 10 sides from the 2016 season and two promoted teams from the 2016 Myanmar National League 2.
Stadiums
| Club | Home City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayeyawady United | Pathein | Ayar Stadium | 6,000 |
| Chin United | Hakha | Wammathu Maung Stadium* | 4,000 |
| Hantharwady United | Bago | Bago Stadium(temporary-Taungoo Stadium) | 4,000 |
| Magwe | Magway | Magway Stadium* | 3,000 |
| Nay Pyi Taw | Nay Pyi Taw | Wunna Theikdi Stadium | 30,000 |
| Rakhine United | Sittwe | Weithali Stadium | 7,000 |
| Shan United | Taunggyi | Taunggyi Stadium | 7,000 |
| Southern Myanmar | Mawlamyaing | Ramanya Stadium | 10,000 |
| Yadanarbon | Mandalay | Mandalarthiri Stadium | 30,000 |
| Yangon United | Yangon | Yangon United Sports Complex | 3,500 |
| G.F.A | Chin | ||
| Zwegapin United | Hpa-An | Aung Than Lwin Stadium | 3,000 |
(*) - not ready to play. MNL clubs that have not had their home stadia ready to host home matches currently use Aung San Stadium and Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon. [3]
See also
- 2017 MNL-2
- 2017 General Aung San Shield
- 2017 MFF Charity Cup
- List of Myanmar football transfers winter 2016
- List of Myanmar football transfers summer 2017
References
- ↑ Hlaing, Kyaw Zin (6 September 2016). "Eight seasons in for MNL, three teams drop out". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ↑ Hlaing, Kyaw Zin (13 September 2016). "Southern, Nay Pyi Taw catch MNL break". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ↑ MNL, MFF (21 September 2016). "Eight seasons in for MNL, three teams drop out". Stdium. Retrieved 21 October 2016.