Johor in the mood for grand double

WITH team spirits running high, Agong’s Cup champions Johor are eying a grand double by winning the National Sevens which kicks off in Ipoh today.

Despite their strong performances in the 15s format in recent seasons, Johor coach Hamrizal Hamdan said he is happy to enter the National Sevens as a dark horse for the title.

The state, who have Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur for company in Group D, achieved the Agong’s Cup and National Sevens double in 2013.

“Obviously, we want to achieve what we did in 2013 and win both titles this year. It (2013) was the first time we had won the National Sevens,” said Hamrizal yesterday.

“But as far as we are concerned, Kelantan are the favourites for the title as the majority of the players from the Sea Games winning national team are with them.

“Terengganu and Perak are also strong teams whom I expect to also challenge for the title. It is okay, we are comfortable being the underdogs.”

Terengganu are defending champions while Kelantan won the title back-to-back in 20142015. Wan Izzudin Ismail is the only player from the Sea Games squad who will be playing for Johor.

The team will also be banking on the services of Hasraffudin Basir, Mohd Zaihari Zumardi and Muhammad Fitri Abdullah, who were part of the National squad that competed at the Asian Sevens Series in Hong Kong earlier this month as well as the highly experienced Izwan Abu Bakar.

For the first time this year, the National Sevens will also feature a women’s category.

Johor, who lost to Perak in the Agong’s Cup final last year, defeated Terengganu to recapture the title last month.

The Johor state government will be handing out a RM100,000 incentive to the team, which will be split among management, coaches and players, for winning the Agong’s Cup.

The reward will be presented to the team during Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (football team) final Super League match against Kelantan at the Larkin Stadium on Wednesday.

This is one of the highest payouts the sport - which has long lacked financial backing - ever seen in Malaysia.