New Sabah Times
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah should do at least one
step better than this season in the FA Cup competition 2012 after being
handed a relatively easy draw in the first round.
They are set to take on Premier League minors – Kuala Lumpur-based
club side Sime Darby in the first stage of the competition on February
18, 2012.
The draw held in the national capital yesterday will also see them taking on either KL Plus or Penang USM FC in the second round that has been slated for March 10, 2012.
However, Sabah will not have the homeground advantage, as they have
to play both the first round and the second round (if they make it
through) away from home.
Sabah FA Secretary General Alijus Hj Sipil said they are happy with
the draw and hope that the State squad will do at least one step better
than last time out.
Sabah have not had a good outing in the competition since winning it
in 1995. Their best achievement was in reaching the semi-finals twice
in 1999 and 2001.
Besides that in between 1995 to 2011, they also made it into the quarter-finals five times in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
The rest of the years (since 1995), they ended their campaign either in the first round or the second round.
The last three seasons, they failed to make it through into the second round.
This season they lost to Pahang 2-1 away (in the first round).
For the record, Terengganu are the defending champions. They
defeated Kelantan 2-1 in the final last June at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.
Alijus said that this time, the FA of Malaysia is sticking to the same format for the FA Cup.
He said that the first two rounds will be played on a one-leg knockout system.
The two-leg format will only apply for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
“If Sabah make it into the last eight, our possible opponent would be either Selangor or Negeri Sembilan,” said Alijus.
The quarter-finals of the FA Cup are scheduled for March 24 and 27,
the semis on April 21 and
May 1 and the final on May 19 with the venue
(for the final) yet to be decided.
In the Malaysian Super League challenge 2012 that kicks off on
January 10, Alijus revealed that they would kick start their campaign
playing away to KL Felda United.
Sabah would play their first home tie of the season in a Borneo
derby clash against Sarawak on January 14 before traveling to Terengganu
to take on Terengganu T-Team on January 17.
Then Sabah will play another interesting home tie against Malaysian Super League debutantes Lions XII (Singapore Under-23) on January 21.
Alijus also said that both Sabah and neighbouring Sarawak have made a special request to the FAM, requesting for changes to their fixtures.
“We have made a request that we play two consecutive away and home
matches in order for us to save costs on our travelling expenses,” said
Alijus.
For the new season, the Super League has 14 teams while the Premier League 12.
The Premier League for 2012 that kicks off on January 13 also sees
the entry of club side Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB) FC and FAM League champions Betaria FC from Negeri Sembilan.
The Charity Shield match between Kelantan and Malaysia Cup champions
Negeri Sembilan will be held at the Sultan Mohamad IV Stadium on Jan 7,
but unlike previously, this tie will not carry any points for the Super
League.
