31 teams to tussle for Safa Cup
KOTA KINABALU: Thirty one teams will be vying for top honour in the Sabah Football Association (Safa) Cup tournament.
Entering its sixth edition, the inter-district competition previously known as the Chief Minister’s Cup tournament will commence with the preliminary rounds comprising eight zones today.
The eight qualifying zones are West Coast, Upper Interior, Lower Interior Nabalu, North, Sandakan, Tawau and Central Interior, Safa deputy president Datuk Rahman Zakaria revealed here yesterday.
“There are slight changes to the tournament this year and the most notable one is that it will now be called Safa Cup.
“Apart from that, we have also decided to include Membakut, Menumbok, Tamparuli and Matunggong in the tournament.
“The 2016 champions Labuan too will be making a comeback,” he said here yesterday.
Rahman, who is also Safa Competition Committee chairman, hoped that with more teams taking part, it would create a better opportunity to spot talented footballers.
According to Rahman, the West Coast zone will comprise defending champions Kota Kinabalu, who will also play host to the group comprising Papar, Penampang and Putatan; Lower Interior (Beaufort - host, Sipitang, Membakut); Upper Interior (Keningau - host, Tenom, Nabawan, Tambunan); Nabalu (Kota Belud - host, Tuaran, Tamparuli, Ranau); North (Kudat - host, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Matunggong); Sandakan Zone (Sandakan - host, Beluran, Kinabatangan, Telupid); Tawau Zone (Tawau - host, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Semporna); and Central Interior (Labuan - host, Menumbok, Kuala Penyu).
The West Coast zone matches will be played from November 4 to 6; Interior Lower (November 2-4); Upper Interior (November 911); Nabalu (November 3-4); North (November 9-11); Sandakan Zone (November 2-5); Tawau Zone (November 9-11); and Central Interior (November 9-11).
“The preliminary group stages will be played on a round-robin format and the eight group winners will then advance into the Final Rounds scheduled for November 19-24,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rahman said the teams this year are also allowed to register a maximum of two players, either both from the Reserve League, both Under-19 players or one each from the state junior squad.
However, he stressed that other rulings on the players’ eligibility remained the same where teams can register a maximum of three players between 22 to 25 years old while the rest should comprise under-21 players.
“A team can register a maximum of 25 players,” he said.
For the record, Kota Kinabalu defeated Beaufort 2-0 to emerge as the champions last year.
The other champions of the annual tournament include Keningau in 2013, Tawau (2014), Sandakan (2015) and Labuan (2016).