Papar to take on Kepayan in KDM Malaysia FA Cup round-of-16
KOTA KINABALU: The KDM Malaysia Football League will resume with its FA Cup roundof-16 fixtures this weekend.
Organising secretary Jellysius Saimpon said five matches would take place tomorrow (March 23) and another three matches on Sunday (March 24).
The highlight of the weekend’s fixtures will undoubtedly involve the defending champions Papar who will face Kepayan at the Prison Department football field in Kepayan tomorrow.
Papar, who won in the inaugural edition of the FA Cup back in 2014-2015, made it into the round-of-16 after beating Sugut 8-3 on aggregate. Papar were stunned in the first leg 0-1 by hosts Sugut but came back strongly to win 8-2 in the return leg.
The other much anticipated match tomorrow will see Kota Belud, the runners-up in the first edition, hosting Kiulu at the Botung Sports Complex.
Kota Belud sneaked into the top 16 only on the away goals rule after Melalap held them 3-3 on aggregate in the earlier rounds.
Kota Belud won the first leg 1-0 at home and lost 2-3 in the second leg, but, the two goals scored away from home proved crucial.
Meanwhile, the KDM Malaysia Football League defending champions and Charity Shield winners Keningau are the notable absentees in the roundof-16.
Keningau had won 3-1 in their own backyard but Sepanggar bounced back to win 5-0 in the second to turn the tables on one of the early favourites 6-3 on aggregate.
The other teams who made it this far in the FA Cup are Labuan, Ranau, Sipitang, Lahad Datu, Penampang, Tongod, Inanam, Semporna, Kota Marudu, Telupid and Bandaraya.
“The round-of-16 matches will also be played over two legs (home and away),” said Jellysius.
For the record, the FA Cup is one of competitions contested in the KDM Malaysia Football League where the others are the President Cup Carnival, the Charity Shield and the main event which is the league competition.
All thirty-two teams that entered the league are taking part in the FA Cup.
The KDM Malaysia Football League, which offers a total prize money of over RM300,000, is organised by the Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) Malaysia organisation in collaboration with the Youth and Sports Ministry.