Sabah Unity League Cup starts in August

KOTA KINABALU: The new season of the Sabah Unity League Cup 2017 (LPS2017) Open category will kick off in August.

Organised by the Penampang Unity Football Club, the annual event that started in 2009 will see quite a number of participating teams this year.

Thirty-two football clubs and teams from all over Sabah have confirmed their participation.

"Teams from as far as Tawau and Kudat are also in the fray, apart from regulars from Kota Marudu, Kota Belud, Tuaran, Labuan and teams from the Interior division namely Tambunan, Keningau and Pendalaman," said tournament organiser Edwin Jimiji in a statement yesterday.

The teams are Sahabat FC of Tawau, Kudat Cool, Paturoja FC (Kudat), Mamai FC (Kota Marudu), Plus One FC (Kota Belud), Adisson FC (Kota Belud), Putra KP (Kota Belud), Kiulu FC, Sporting Kinabalu (Tuaran), Luton FC (Keningau), Smart FC (Tambunan), Gapeman FC (Interior), Briged Sabah PGA, Penjara FC, YHFC (Putatan), Ketiau Bersatu, Komplex FC (Labuan), KDM Labuan, LUFC (Likas), Nabt FC, The Blues FC, Mixteam FC, Karamunich FC, Buddies FC, Sabah Cops, Racing Athletic (Kota Kinabalu), Kesihatan, SESB FC, Kapazan Real FC, Simfield FC, BEMA FC and Telaga FC.

A total of more than RM30,000 cash prize plus trophies and medals will be up for grabs, he added.

The champions will take home RM10,000 plus trophies and medals, runners-up RM7,000 plus trophies and medals, semifinalists RM2,500 each plus trophies and medals, and quarter-finalists RM1,000.

"Our main objective is to enhance and promote the development of football in Sabah through more competitive football tournaments especially among the youth.

"It is hoped that this could be one of the avenues for Sabah Football Association (Safa) to identify potential players to represent the state.

"It is also to promote and foster unity and understanding among the players, football clubs, sport bodies, governmental organisations and agencies as well as the football fans in Sabah," he said.

The competition will start off with the group league system based on the World Cup format where two teams from each group will qualify for the first round.

Meanwhile, the managers' meeting will be held on July 8 at the Ground Floor, Penampang Sport Complex starting 2pm.

"All managers and team officials are requested to attend the meeting," said Edwin.

For further information on the tournament, contact Edwin at 010870 2988.