KK team to beat in Safa Cup

KOTA KINABALU: Defending champions Kota Kinabalu will be the team to beat when the Grand Finals of the Sabah Football Association (Safa) Cup gets underway here from November 19-24.

Joining Kota Kinabalu in the eight-team finals are former champions Keningau (2013) and Tawau (2014) as well as Sipitang, Kinabatangan, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and the unheralded Kuala Penyu.

The teams advanced after finishing top of their respective zones in the qualifying rounds which ended on Sunday.

Kota Kinabalu won the West Coast Zone competition after clinching 2-0 consecutive wins over Putatan, Papar and Penampang for the maximum nine points.

Keningau, the inaugural champions in 2013 also did well to collect nine points after beating Tenom 2-0, Nabawan 10 and Tambunan 3-1 to top the Upper Interior Zone.

The 2014 champions Tawau stated their intent to reclaim the Safa Cup (formerly known as the Chief Minister’s Cup) with huge wins over Kunak 9-0 and Semporna 7-0.

Tawau then staved off the challenge of Lahad Datu in the winners-take-all last group fixtures of the Tawau Zone qualifiers, registering a 3-1 victory to cement top placing and a place in the final rounds.

Kinabatangan, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and the Kuala Penyu also advanced by going unbeaten in their respective zones.

Kinabatangan edged the 2015 champions Sandakan 3-0, Beluran 3-2 and Telupid 3-2 to top the Sandakan Zone; Kota Belud recorded 2-0 win over Ranau, 5-0 over Tamparuli and 2-0 against Tuaran to finish first in Nabalu Zone; Kota Marudu beat Pitas 4-2, Kudat 2-1 and Matunggong 2-1 to top North Zone; and Kuala Penyu claimed a 2-1 win over Menumbok and 2016 champions Labuan 2-1 to progress as the Central Interior Zone table toppers.

The battle for the single Grand Finals slot for Lower Interior Zone went all the way into the last group fixtures with Sipitang, who had earlier secured a 1-1 draw against Membakut, defeating Beaufort 2-1 to seal a place in the next round.

For the record, Kota Kinabalu defeated Beaufort 2-0 to emerge as champions last year.