“Tusty” red- hot in Malaysia

National footballer Marlon “Tusty” James is on song and on top of his goal scoring form in the Malaysian Football League.{{more}}

The 31-year-old James is currently the leading goal scorer in the Super League with 18 goals.

Incidentally, Kedah has not lost a match once James finds the back of the net. In fact, James has scored all five goals that Kedah has netted in their last three matches.

His latest, his 18th in the Super League, came last Saturday, when he scored a 65th free-kick against Nembri Sebilan in a 1-1 tie.

This followed his brace versus Johor FC last week Tuesday.

James’ goal last Saturday pushed his tally in all competitions this season to 21.

Kedah’s coach Mohd Azraai Khor has described the powerfully built James’ input to the club’s run this season as a “sensation”. Kedah, with eight matches to go in the Super League, has opened up a five point lead on their nearest rival Selangor. Kedah sits comfortably on 38 points from 16 matches, while Selangor has 33 points from the same number of matches.

Kedah won every trophy that was at stake in the 2006/2007 championships, winning the Malaysian Super League, the Malaysian Cup and the Malaysian FA Cup.

Last year, James barely missed out on the “Golden Boots Award” for the top goal scorer in the League, but seems on course to repeat a feat he first accomplished in the 2004-2005 season, then as a player for MK Land.

He is six goals clear of his nearest challenger Mohd Khalid Jamlus of Perak.

In the 2006/2007 season, James was named “The Most Valuable Overseas Player”, then crowned off his debut season with Kedah scoring two of the three goals which landed them the Malaysian Cup in the title decider against Perak. He finished the season with 40 goals in all competitions.

Kedah is James’ third club in the Malaysian football set up. He had a short stint with Sabah F. C in the 2001-2002 season.

Vincentians both here and abroad would be hoping that his potency will continue when he returns to be one of the key players in this country’s line up against Canada in the World Cup qualifiers in June.

James, from the Grenadine island of Bequia, made his national debut in 1995, but his overseas club commitments have restricted his appearances for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Another Vincentian dependable defender, Cornelius Huggins, is also on the roster of Kedah. Huggins, a fixture on the St. Vincent and the Grenadines national senior team since he made his debut in 1995, is Kedah’s Vice-Captain. Huggins joined Kedah in 2004. (RT)