SPECIAL HONOUR FOR PKNS
Club to play against Singapore in Sultan of Selangor’s Cup
IN a new blow to the FA of Selangor (FAS), the state team have been snubbed for this year’s annual Sultan of Selangor’s Cup match against a Singapore Selection with the invitation going to PKNS instead.
Sultan of Selangor’s Cup organising chairman Tan Sri Abdul Karim Munisar, in a letter dated Monday, extended the invitation to Super League club PKNS to face the Singapore Selection on May 6 at the National Stadium in Kallang.
This would be only the second time that FAS have not been invited to put up a team in the annual series which began in 2001 after the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council represented the state in 2004.
A PKNS source said the club are honoured to be given the duty to represent the state in the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup.
“We have only just received the invitation and we accept the call by His Royal Highness (Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah) to play in the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup against the Singapore side,” the source told Timesport yesterday.
“We will make all the necessary preparations to ensure we put up a competitive team capable of winning the match.”
The invitation to PKNS comes after FAS ignored the advise of Tengku Amir Shah, the Raja Muda of Selangor, to revamp the association at their extraordinary general meeting and elections last month.
Prior to the start of the season, FAS had also attempted to bar PKNS from playing in the MLeague although that matter was resolved with the FA of Malaysia’s assistance.
The source said the club will consult coach E. Elavarasan on the need to strengthen the team by inviting guest players.
“We will discuss with the coach whether we need additional players, if not then the current squad will play in the match.”
The source also confirmed that PKNS will file a request with MLeague organisers Football Malaysia LLP to reschedule a home match against Kedah on May 6.
PKNS are currently ninth in the Super League standings and have not won in their last five matches in all competitions while Selangor are fifth, four points ahead of PKNS.
Singapore are the current holders of the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup after defeating Selangor 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Shah Alam Stadium last year.