Kota Kinabalu: Minnows Kuala Penyu qualified for the final rounds of the Safa Cup tournament after upsetting hosts and hot favourites Labuan 2-1 in the final match to win the Interior Centre Zone competition held at the Labuan Sports Complex synthetic pitch on Sunday. The team had earlier defeated Menumbok 4-2 on Saturday while Labuan were held 0-0 by Menumbok in their opening match on Friday.
As a result, Kuala Penyu with a maximum six points topped the group and are set to make their first appearance in the finals to be held in Kota Kinabalu from November 19-24. Team manager Fredolin Penggo was overjoyed with the unexpected result as the team had little time to prepare for the competition. "It was a great result as we did not have enough time to prepare.
It was all due to team work and commitment by the players added by the right strategies from the coaches that resulted in the wins. "It was a very good performance by the team but we should not rest on our laurels and must focus on the finals ahead," said the Safa Kuala Penyu deputy president, who also thanked Safa Kuala Penyu president Sebastian Ingkim, Sabah Youth Cup assistant manager Lokman Sunggim, and all the committees as well as officials for their input in the team's success.
Meanwhile, the seven other teams who will join Kuala Penyu in the finals are defending champions Kota Kinabalu from West Zone, Kinabatangan from Interior Sandakan Zone, Kota Belud from Nabalu Zone, Sipitang from Interior Lower Zone, Kota Marudu from North Zone, Tawau from Interior Tawau Zone and Keningau from Interior Upper Zone. - GL Oh
