Milomir on mission to spot cream of the crop

New Sabah Times

THE TALENT HUNT BEGINS … Lawrence, (centre), chairing the organising committee meeting yesterday. The rest from right, are Yusof, Hasbullah, KH Tan and Junaidi.

KOTA KINABALU: New Sabah head coach Seslija Milomir will be on a Statewide road-show hunting for talent during the Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman Cup football tournament, which is scheduled to kick off from early October, 2013. Sabah Football Association (SFA) Deputy President Datuk Lawrence Gimbang revealed this after chairing the inter-district organising committee meeting held at the SFA’s office in Likas here yesterday. Lawrence said Milomir will go to all the tournament venues with the hope of unearthing Sabah’s cream of the crop.

 “That’s the reason why the tournament date for the qualifying round is not the same. This is to enable Milomir to have the opportunity to hunt for talents at all the venues,” said Gimbang. Vice President II and Vice President III Datuk Yusof Kassim and KH Tan respectively were also present at the function, so as Assistant Secretary General I Junaidi Ahmad Fauzi and Executive Secretary Hasbullah Yahya. Lawrence also revealed that they have fixed the dates of the tournament for all the venues as well as the grand finals, which will be held in Kota Kinabalu.

 Lawrence said they are also giving subsidies of RM2,000 for each competing team for the qualifying. An additional subsidy of between RM5,000 to RM8,000 will also be given to teams that make it into the grand finals. “The amount the teams receive for the grand finals will depend on the distance,” said Gimbang, adding that the registration fee is RM100 per team. The deadline for registration is on August 16, at 12 noon. The winners of the grand finals stand to receive RM5,000, RM3,000 for the runners-up and RM2,000 for the third placed team.

A challenge trophy, trophy and medals are also to be given away to the champions and the same goes to the second and third placed teams. Touching a little on the rules and regulations of the tournament, Lawrence said each team is allowed to register five officials and 25 players. As for the players, each team must register 20 players under 21 years old while another five are for players between the ages of 22 to 27 with only two allowed at any time in a match.

 Teams are also required to engage coaches, who possess at least a basic coaching certificate. Altogether, there will be 26 teams vying for honours, including invitational team Labuan. He also revealed that these teams have been drawn into eight groups with only the group winners making the grand finals. Tawau, Semporna and Kunak, who have been drawn in Group 1, will kick off the tournament. The qualifying date for the Group 1 has been set for October 1 to 3, and will be held at the Tawau Sports Complex field. Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu and Tongod are in Group 2.

The venue for the qualifying will be at the SMK Kinabatangan, and will be held from October 7 to 8. Group 3 comprises Sandakan, Beluran and Ranau. They will play their qualifying round from October 10 to 12 at the SMK Kebangsaan Telupid field. Kota Marudu, Kudat and Pitas, who were drawn in Group 4, will battle it out for the grand finals slot at the SMK Tandek field from October 17 to 19. Group 5 that comprises Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Belud will play their qualifying matches at the Intan field in Tuaran from October 21-23, while Group 6 made up of Penampang, Papar and Putatan will play their matches at the Penampang Sports Complex from Oct 25 to 27.

 Group 7 that comprises four teams namely Beaufort, Kuala Penyu, Sipitang and Labuan will battle it out at the Beaufort Sports Complex field from Oct 29 to 31, while Group 8, that is also made up of four teams namely Keningau, Tambunan, Nabawan and Tenom will have their matches played at the Keningau Sports Complex from November 1 to 3. The grand finals are scheduled for November 11 to 15 in the State Capital.