The committee of Myanmar National League (MNL) is going to hold to release professional clubs participating in 2019 MNL, said a source close to the MNL.

The MNL-2 (first-class) has been scheduled in the second week of January in 2019. The MNL football tournament will go on with a total of 12 teams. The first-class tournament depends on the financial situation of the teams. 

The MNL’s committee asked the football clubs eligible for the MNL and the first-class whether they would take part in the tournament  in the upcoming season or not and whether they would host home matches or not.  

GFA and Myawady were relegated in the 2018 MNL. Royal Thanlyin, the champions of the first-class of the MNL, and Dagon, the runners-up of the first class, were promoted to the MNL for the 2019 football season. 

Myanmar national men’s football squad will have no important tournaments next year. The MNL will be temporarily halted at a time when Asian U-23 qualification and ASEAN U-22 Championship are held. The MNL football tournament will be complete during September due to the 2019 SEA Games. 

The committee of MNL will hold a meeting to draft the fixtures for the MNL and the MNL-2 for the season of the 2019 during this month. It may approve the teams only after the meeting. The MNL-2 football tournament was held with seven teams during the previous football season. If some teams withdraw from the tournament, the number of teams will be likely to be fewer. 

Translated by Win Htut