PSM may invite foreign teams for STL Champions Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) are considering inviting foreign teams to boost the Sepak Takraw League (STL) Champions Cup 2021/2022 in Johor Baru in March.

PSM acting president Datuk Akramuddin Abdul Aziz Safiat hopes to lure foreign teams who are on par with local sides to further enliven the tournament, which is set to be held on March 20-26 once the STL Premier League and Division One campaigns end.

He also believes that the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF) will ‘bless’ PSM’s desire to bring foreign teams to compete in the tournament after ASTAF had made a U-turn by allowing imported players to return playing in the STL competitions, namely the Premier League, which is scheduled to start on Jan 9, and Division One beginning Feb 1.

“We can see that the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) have a very good relationship with ASTAF president Datuk Abdul Halim Kader, so there will be no problems for the organisers to bring foreign teams to compete in the Champions Cup,” he told a media conference on Friday.

Also present was OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.

On Jan 5, ASTAF gave the green light for teams competing in the STL this season to hire foreign players after the Asian governing body had earlier issued a warning that action could be taken against any import players found competing in the STL as the PSM were not a member of ASTAF.

Meanwhile, PSM secretary-general Datuk Abidullah Salleh, when met by reporters, said that their three former affiliates, namely Selangor, Putrajaya and Sarawak, could apply to rejoin PSM after the Feb 12 Annual General Assembly (AGM).

“I believe the new PSM leadership, as well as the supreme council members, will consider the applications of Selangor, Putrajaya and Sarawak should they be keen to return to the fold,” he said.

The PSM crisis began last May when ASTAF expelled the association while former PSM president Datuk Seri Ahmad Ismail was suspended for 17 years following his action as ASTAF’s deputy president in sending a letter allegedly insulting the association to the Olympic Council of Asia and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

That resulted in 11 affiliates, known as G11, pulling out from PSM. However, a majority of them rejoined PSM while the rest are said to be trying to form the Malaysia Sepak Takraw Federation.