32 teams for KDM Malaysia League
Matches for the KDM Malaysia Football League Tournament 2018-2019 will be held every weekend beginning January 26.
KOTA KINABALU: Matches for the KDM Malaysia Football League Tournament 2018-2019 will be held every weekend beginning January 26.
A total of 32 participating teams divided into eight groups will play in a single-round league format to determine the top two teams of each group.
Only the top two teams will make it to the knock-out stage where matches will be played in a return leg format to determine the quarter-finalists.
The tournament draw, which was held at the Likas Stadium yesterday, saw defending champions (2014-2015) Keningau drawn in Group F. Keningau, also winners of the 2018 Charity Cup match, are joined by Inanam, Sandakan and Sugut.
FA Cup winners from the inaugural edition, Papar were drawn in Group D along with Ranau, Kedamaian and Kuala Penyu.
“Everything is almost ready including the tournament schedule, which only needs to be updated and finalised before being distributed to the teams. I think everything can be finalised by next week, as planned.
“The league matches are scheduled for completion in April, followed by the FA Cup fixtures,” said tournament secretary Jellysius Saimpon when met after chairing the managers' meeting and tournament draw.
Almost all teams were represented at the meeting.
The tournament is organised by the Malaysian Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) Organisation with the cooperation of the Youth and Sports Ministry.
It is the biggest football competition in the State with up to RM330,000 worth of cash prizes up for grabs including RM100,000 for the champions and RM50,000 for the runners-up.
There is also a RM30,000 and RM15,000 for third and fourth place teams respectively. On top of that, there is a RM50,000 winner's purse for the FA Cup champions and RM10,000 for runners-up.
There are also novelty prizes for individuals and a Fair Play award.
The complete groupings are as follows: Group A (Bandaraya KK, Sipitang, Kiulu), Group B (Kota Marudu, Kimanis, Sook, Penampang), Group C (Kudat, Pitas Liawan, Putatan), Group D (Ranau, Kedamaian, Kuala Penyu, Papar), Group E (Telupid, Labuan, Nabawan, Kundasang), Group F (Inanam, Keningau, Sandakan, Sugut), Group G (Kemabong, Tongod, Kepayan, Kota Belud) and Group H (Melalap, Lahad Datu, Tambunan, Semporna).