By FRANCIS XAVIER Francis@newsabahtimes.com.my
KOTA KINABALU: FAM Cup new boys KDMM FC will kick off their campaign by taking on Perak PKNP FC at the Keningau Stadium this Sunday in a revised fixture.
The tie has been scheduled to kick off at 4.15pm.
KDMM FC, one of the two state representatives in the country’s third tier competition, were initially scheduled to take on MOF FC (Ministry of Finance Football Club) in the opener, and followed by another two home games.
But due to KL TNB Kilat pulling out from the competition at the eleventh hour, the fixtures for the Group B tie have been revised.
With the latest development, Group B will now consists of eight teams, namely Sabah KDMM FC, Perak PKNP FC, Malacca SAMB FC, Kelantan MPKB-BRI U-BES FC, Persatuan Bolasepak Melayu Malaysia (PBMM), Kelab Bolasepak Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (KL UKM FC), Terengganu Hanelang FC and MOF FC.
After the PKNP FC date (Kelab Bolasepak Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak/Perak State Development Corporation Football Club), KDMM FC will play two consecutive away matches against KL UKM FC at Stadium Mini UKM Bangi, Selangor on March 6 before taking on Kelantan MPKB-BRI UBES FC at Stadium Sultan Mohamad IV, Kota Bharu on March 9.
They will take on PBMM upon their return from the two away trips. The second home tie has been slated for March 13 followed by another away game against Melaka SAMB FC on April 3.
On April 10, they take on Terengganu Hanelang FC at the Keningau Stadium before concluding their first round challenge by taking on KL MOF FC away on April 17.
After the conclusion of the first round, the league is scheduled to take a three-week break and would only resume on May 11 where they face off with KL MOF FC at home followed by another home tie against KL UKM FC on May 15. After the two consecutive home games, they will travel to Ipoh, to take on Perak PKNP FC on May 22.
After the away tie, the league is taking a break and would only resume on August 7 where KDMM FC will be playing away to PBMM.
After that, they will return home to face Kelantan MPKB-BRI UBES FC at the Keningau Stadium on August 10 before playing away to Terengganu Hanelang FC on August 14 in a penultimate group fixture.
They conclude their group challenge by taking on Melaka SAMB FC on April 21.
KDMM FC must make a top-four finish if they harbour hope to make it beyond the group stage. KDMM FC team manager Henry Saimpon said they need to always be ready to face any situation, including revised fixtures such as this.
“What is important is this does not affect our preparations, and I’m confident the team will be fully ready when the league gets underway on Sunday,” said Henry.
“We are looking forward to the new season as this will be our debut appearance in the league, and I can see that the team are in high spirits ahead of the opener,” he added.
“We have no knowledge about our opponents, who are also making the first appearance in the league, so it is important for us to play our own game.
“Our preparations under our head coach Andrew Majanggim, have been going on smoothly, and come Sunday, we will surely give our best shot in the game. We also hope that the local fans will turn up in full force to support the team,” concluded Henry.
Sabah’s other representative in the league, DYS FC are in Group A that comprises MISC-MIFA, Persatuan Bola Sepak Ipoh (Ipoh FC), Megah Murni FC, AirAsia Allstars FC, Sungai Ara FC, Felcra FC, Shahzan Muda FC and Penjara FC.
