Kota Kinabalu: Defending champions Kota Kinabalu made it to the semi-final of the Safa Cup after they hammered Kota Marudu 5-1 at the Likas Stadium in their final Group B match to top the group on Wednesday. The goals were scored by Mohd Yazid, Mohd Faqeurazi, Mohd Fuad Amin, Hazrul Ahmad and Mohd Zainal Hasyir Hamid.
They will next take on Kinabatangan at Penampang Stadium on Friday who finished second in Group A after beating Sipitang 2-0 in their final group match while Group A champions Keningau will be up against Kota Belud in the other semi-final at Likas Stadium. The third day of the Safa Cup football tournament was marred by controversy after Tawau who had earlier thought to have qualified for the last four were deducted three points over their 2-1 win over Kota Kinabalu on Tuesday.
A protest lodged by Kota Kinabalu against them for fielding goalkeeper Mohd Ramzie Mustakim during the match was granted after they claimed that the former State Under-19 player had earlier registered with Membakut in the zone competition and based on competitions rules, only teams from the same zone can re-register them for the finals.
As a result, Kota Kinabalu were granted three points with a 3-0 win and in the do and die match against Kota Belud at the Penampang Stadium on Wednesday, Tawau were unable to win the three points needed to progress after they only managed a goalless draw with Kota Belud. Meanwhile, Kinabatangan also faced a protest after their 2-0 win over Sipitang in the morning match on Wednesday but the result stood after former President Cup player Hafizan Jahar who was named in the appeal was found to have served his one match suspension in the match against Keningau on Tuesday following his red card against Kuala Penyu in the opening match.
Hafizan also netted the second goal in that match against Sipitang following an early own goal by Kelvin Pengiran in the 2nd minute. - GL Oh
