KDM Keningau clinches KDMM Football League Charity Shield
KOTA KINABALU: KDM Keningau came back from two goals down to beat KDM Papar 3-2 to clinch the KDMM Football League 2018/2019 Charity Shield at Keningau Stadium late Saturday.
After a scoreless first half, the defending League champions Keningau found themselves 2-0 down after Norejan Jamlin and David Joseph scored for Papar in the 51st and 60th minutes respectively.
Cheered on by the home crowd, Keningau launched a determined fightback and were rewarded when Aldrin Justin pulled a goal back in the 66th minute.
Former state President Cup player Zackallani Antanom then sent the fans into frenzy after scoring the equaliser in the 88th minute.
There was no turning back for Keningau as Shane Albert found the back of the net with a powerful shot in the second minute of the five-minute injury time.
It proved to be the decisive winner that saw Keningau bag the Charity Shield as well as RM10,000 in prize money while Papar settled for RM3,500.
KDM Malaysia president Datuk Peter Anthony presented the prizes to the winners.
Meanwhile, Peter said the Sabah Football Academy will be formed in the near future in order to improve the standard of football in the State.
He said the focus of the acedemy was to identify talents at the grassroot levels and to groom them to be quality footballers thus helping to improve Sabah football and the country.
Peter went on to say that combined efforts from all are needed to ensure that football in Sabah will reach new heights.