Malaysian Tigers

THE National Felda Futsal Championship, after much speculation about its postponement, was launched by Felda and the FA of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The RM2 million tournament will see 24 men’s teams and 24 women’s team competing in the four-month league.

The teams will be divided into six groups from which the group winners will pocket RM10,000 and the runners-up RM5,000.

Group A consists Police, Malacca, Pahang and Selangor PKNS, Group B comprises Selangor, Armed Forces, Johor MP and Kelantan, while Group C will see Perak, Sarawak, Pahang and KL Plus battling it out.

Group D will have Johor, KL Figos, Selangor MBPJ and Terengganu T-Team, while Felda United, Perlis, Penang and Kuala Lumpur will see action in Group E and Sabah, Terengganu, Johor MBJB and Kedah make up Group F.

The group winners advance to compete in the Cup championship where the champions get RM40,000 and runners-up pocket RM20,000.

“This is another event that shows Felda is committed to the development of futsal in the country and we hope that more players will be identified from this programme,” said Felda chairman Tan Sri Dr Yusoff Noor.

“This is great chance for us to pick a back-up squad for the futsal team and hope these players will break into the national team,” said FAM deputy president Khairy Jamaluddin.

FAM has sanctioned the competition and will offer technical expertise to Felda which will organise the competition.

Fixtures– 1st rd: Dec 12-14 Felda Jengka, Pahang; 2nd rd: Dec 19-21 — Kuala Terengganu; 3rd rd: Dec 26-28 — Kuantan; 4th rd: Jan 9-11 — Johor Baru; 5th rd and finals: Jan 16-18 — Felda Trolak.