2017 Myanmar National League
# 2017 Myanmar National League

The 2017 Myanmar National League, also known as the 2017 Max Cement 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. 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.

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. In May 2017, Max Cement company sponsored 2017 MNL for second-half season.

## 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 |
| Hanthawaddy United | Bago | Grand Royal 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.

### Foreign players

The number of foreign players is restricted to four per MNL club. A team can use three foreign players on the field in each game, including a slot for a player from among AFC countries.

| Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | AFC player | Former Player |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ayeyawady United | Sébastien Etiemble | Keith Martu Nah | Ndongo Philippe | | |
| Chin United | Soulemadou | Sackie Teah Doe | Ahmadou | | Kaham Mardochee Arthur Kouassi |
| GFA | Atanga Effa Kostka | Mark Sekyi | Emmanuel Uzochukwu | | |
| Hanthawaddy United | Junior | Marcinho | Marcio Santos | | |
| Magwe | Abdulafees Abdulsalam | Jean-Paul Hinako Oulaï | Michael Falcon | | Sylla Sekou |
| Nay Pyi Taw | Ibrahim | Bamba Gaoussou | Saliffii | Nishihara Takumu | |
| Shan United | Djawa Maximin | Patrick Kanyuka | Christopher Chizoba | Han Kyung-in | Kim Hyun-woo |
| Southern Myanmar | Mirko Todorović | Simeon Hristov | Hedipo Gustavo | | Fernando Prado |
| Rakhine United | Argarawa | Anderson Ebimo West | Idoku Sunday Mathew | | |
| Yadanarbon | Williams | Patrick Asare | | | |
| Yangon United | Kekere Moukailou | Emerson | César | | Francis Emeka |
| Zwekapin United | Maranhão | Clarke Clifford | Moussa | Ken Matsumoto | Donald Bissa Djam Ronald Kufoin |

### Personnel and sponsoring

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Ayeyawady United | Htet Min Saya | Min Min Thu | FBT | AMI Insurance |
| Chin United | Shwe Shwe Aung | Suan Lam Mang | Pro Sport | M-150 |
| G.F.A | Htike Thiha Saya | Mai Aih Naing | Kronos | Gospel For Asia |
| Hanthawaddy United | Saya Zaw Min Htut | Aung Zaw | FBT | |
| Magwe | Win Hlaing Oo | Hein Zar Aung | Grand Sport | |
| Nay Pyi Taw | Kyaw Zin Saya | Chan Chan | Warrix Sports | Hotel ACE |
| Rakhine United | Phyo Thiha Naing | Chan Nyein Kyaw | | United Amara Bank |
| Shan United | Soe Myat Min | Thiha Sithu | Pro Sport | KBZ Bank |
| Southern Myanmar FC | Win Min Htike | Soe Myat Thu | Pro Sport | Yuzana Group |
| Yadanarbon | Aung Phyo Saya | Yan Paing | FBT | Alpine |
| Yangon United | Ko Ko Oo | Khin Maung Lwin | Grand Sport | First National Insurance |
| Zwekapin United | Saya Min Kyi Aung | Latt Ko Ko Aye | | Htay Group |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Week | Table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Zwekapin United | U Min Kyi | Resigned | 29 April 2017 | 11 | 6th | U Soe Moe | 30 April 2017 |
| Chin United | U Min Tun Lynn | Sacked | 1 May 2017 | 11 | 12th | U Myint Swe | 2 May 2017 |
| Southern Myanmar | U Mya Lwin | Sacked | 9 May 2017 | 12 | 8th | Fabiano Jose Costa Flora | 9 May 2017 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Shan United (C) | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 37 | 8 | +29 | 54 | AFC Champions League preliminary round 2 or AFC Cup group stage |
| 2 | Yangon United | 22 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 45 | 11 | +34 | 52 | |
| 3 | Yadanarbon | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 50 | 27 | +23 | 47 | |
| 4 | Ayeyawady United | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 24 | +12 | 36 | |
| 5 | Rakhine United | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 34 | |
| 6 | Magwe | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 25 | 23 | +2 | 30 | |
| 7 | Southern Myanmar United | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 19 | 24 | −5 | 23 | |
| 8 | Zwegapin United | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 20 | 32 | −12 | 26 | |
| 9 | Hanthawaddy United | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 23 | |
| 10 | Gospel for Asia | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 33 | −13 | 17 | |
| 11 | Chin United (R) | 22 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 21 | 48 | −27 | 11 | Relegation to MNL-2 |
| 12 | Nay Pyi Taw (R, B) | 22 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 49 | −33 | 12 | Relegation to MNL-2 |

## Results

| Home \ Away | AYA | CUD | GFA | HUD | MGW | NPT | RUD | SUD | SMU | YDB | YGN | ZKP |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ayeyawady United | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Chin United | 1–3 | | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–1 |
| GFA | 0–1 | 2–1 | | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 |
| Hanthawaddy United | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 |
| Magwe | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 |
| Nay Pyi Taw | 0–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 0–1 | | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 |
| Rakhine United | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | | 0–3 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Shan United | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| Southern Myanmar | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Yadanarbon | 4–3 | 6–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | | 3–0 | 1–0 |
| Yangon United | 2–0 | 7–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 4–0 |
| Zwegabin United | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | |

## Matches

Fixtures and results of the Myanmar National League 2017 season.

## Season statistics

### Top scorers

    As of 29 October 2017.

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Keith Martu Nah | Ayeyawady United | 15 |
| 1 | Christopher Chizoba | Shan United | 15 |
| 3 | Sunday Mathew | Rakhine United | 11 |
| 4 | Marcio Gomes | Hanthawaddy United | 10 |
| 4 | Patrick Asare | Yadanarbon | 10 |
| 4 | Emmanuel | GFA | 10 |
| 4 | Francis Emeka | Yangon United | 10 |
| 8 | Dway Ko Ko Chit | Shan United | 7 |
| 8 | Thiha Zaw | Ayeyawady United | 7 |
| 10 | Bamba Gaoussou | Nay Pyi Taw | 6 |
| 10 | Aung Thu | Yadanarbon | 6 |
| 10 | Thet Naing | Yadanarbon | 6 |
| 10 | Win Naing Soe | Yadanarbon | 6 |
| 10 | Simeon Hristov | Southern Myanmar | 6 |
| 10 | Kyaw Ko Ko | Yangon United | 6 |
| 10 | César | Yangon United | 6 |
| 15 | Suan Lam Mang | Chin United | 4 |

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Marcio Gomes | Hanthawaddy United | Nay Pyi Taw | 4–3 | 14 May 2017 |
| Patrick Asare | Yadanarbon | Chin United | 6–1 | 2 June 2017 |
| Patrick Asare | Yadanarbon | Hanthawaddy United | 2–3 | 14 October 2017 |

### Clean sheets

    As of 12 September 2017.

| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Thiha Sithu | Shan United | 14 |
| 2 | Kyaw Zin Htet | Yangon United | 12 |
| 3 | Van Lal Hruaia | Ayeyawady United | 8 |
| 4 | Kyaw Zin Phyo | Magwe | 7 |
| 5 | Chan Nyein Kyaw | Rakhine United | 6 |

## Awards

### Monthly awards

| Month | Coach of the Month | Coach of the Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month | Reference |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Month | Coach | Club | Player | Club | Reference |
| January | U Tin Maung Tun | Yangon United | Francis Emeka | Yangon United | |
| February | U Soe Myat Min | Shan United | Christopher Chizoba | Shan United | |
| March & April | U Tin Maung Tun | Yangon United | Kyaw Ko Ko | Yangon United | |
| May | U Soe Myat Min | Shan United | Thet Naing | Yadanarbon | |
