New Sabah Times
By UMESH RAJAN
KOTA KINABALU: The second edition KDM Malaysia Football League Tournament will kick-off on January 26 with matches to be played every weekend.
And it promises to be a tournament that one won’t easily forget.
This 2018-2019 league campaign features a total of 32 teams, divided into eight groups where they will play a single round league format to decide on the top two teams of each group.
And now comes the tricky part. The league’s top 16 teams then qualify for the knock-out stage where matches will use return leg format to determine the teams advancing into the quarter-final stage.
During the tournament group draw held at Likas Stadium on Saturday, inaugural (2014-2015) league defending champion, Keningau was drawn together with Inanam, Sandakan and Sugut in Group F.
Whereas the first edition FA Cup winner, Papar are in Group D together with Ranau, Kedamaian and Kuala Penyu while Group B consisting of Kota Marudu, Kimanis, Sook and Penampang tipped as the most exciting group this season.
Speaking after chairing the managers’ meeting and tournament draw, tournament secretary Jellysius Saimpon informed that all preparations are almost ready including the tournament schedules.
“The schedule will be ready for distribution to the participating teams as some minor updates and finalisation works are required which I think everything can be finalised by next week, as planned,” he said.
The tournament is organised by the Malaysian Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDMM) Organisation with the cooperation of the Youth and Sports Ministry where Jellysius added that league matches are scheduled for completion in April, followed by the FA Cup fixtures.
It is also by far the biggest football competition in Sabah with a whooping RM330,000 worth of cash prizes up for grabs including RM100,000 for the league champion and RM50,000 for the runners-up.
There are also a RM30,000 and RM15,000 for third and fourth place teams respectively while this season’s FA Cup winner will walk away RM50,000 richer with the second place finisher receiving RM10,000.
