Kota Kinabalu: Sabah kick off their Group B Malaysia Cup campaign today (Wednesday) when they host Super League side Penang at the Likas Stadium here at 8.15pm.
The Rhinos will surely want to make the best of start to their campaign and give fans something to cheer about following their dismal finish in the Premier League this season.
Having qualified for the semi-finals in the same competition last season, it remains to be seen if Sabah can once again go the same distance this season but judging from the company they have been drawn into in Group B, it will be an uphill task. Sabah have been drawn together with reigning champions Kedah, Police, which together with Penang are playing in the Super League and Premier League outfits Kuala Lumpur as well as Johor FC.
In this year's competition, 18 teams have been drawn into three groups consisting six teams per group.
Group A consist Selangor, Terangganu, Negri Sembilan Naza, Kelantan, Sarawak and Melaka while Group C are made up by Perak, Perlis, Pahang, Armed Forces (ATM), UPB-MyTea, and Johor Pasir Gudang.
The two top teams in each group will qualify for the quarterfinals together with the two best third-placed teams. The final of the Malaysia Cup has been scheduled for Aug 23 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.
Sabah first round fixtures will see them open their campaign at home against Penang (June 11), before travelling to Kuala Lumpur on June 24.
The Rhinos are then scheduled to play Police and Kedah on June 27 and June 30, respectively (both at home) before ending their first round fixture away against Johor FC on July 3.
