Cyril M. Gom
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah women futsal team will conduct selection trials in preparation for the Malaysian Premier Futsal League (MPFL).
Team manager Cyril M. Gom said the trials will take place once the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are relaxed and after obtaining permission from the relevant authorities.
Cyril revealed the two planned trials on May 24 and June 1 were cancelled due to the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“We can’t do much at the moment but we do hope that we can conduct the trials very soon, when the situation has improved and the SOPs relaxed,” he said when contacted on Tuesday.
The women category of the MPFL is scheduled for August 18-28 at the Wisma FAM futsal arena in Selangor, subject to changes due to the Covid-19 situation in the country.
Commenting further on the state women futsal team, Cyril said only the best will be selected to carry Sabah women’s challenge in the MPFL.
He said that was the reason why the selection trials were important.
“Sabah is quite different from other states because our futsal players alao play for the state women football team.
“So, we may know more or less who are in the team but then again the doors are still open for others and that is why we need the selection trials.
“Maybe we will be able to unearth new talents, more importantly suitable to the game of futsal, outside the current crop of our futsal and football players.
“A team can register a maximum of 25 players for the MPFL but we are looking at around 22 players … we’ll see after we obtain permission to conduct the trials,” said Cyril, adding they are still waiting for a reply to their request to conduct camp-based training.
Cyril also expressed high hope for Sabah women team to perform well in the MPFL.
“We’ll take one step at a time. Firstly, we need to get past the group stage and into the knockout stage … we’ll give our best.”
The state women futsal team head coach is Azman Soaibah and assistant coach Laini Ahing.
Twelve teams will compete for the women’s title where Sabah are in Group B with Selangor MBSJ FC, Melaka, FC Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur and KPTM Bangi while in Group A are Perak SSCJ, Kuala Lumpur Prefer FC, PDRM FC, Sarawak, Selangor MBPJ FC and Pahang Rangers FC.
Meanwhile, Sabah will also be represented in the MPFL men’s category.
Sabah men are also in Group B with Pahang Rangers FC, Selangor MAC, Sarawak United, Kelantan FC, KL City FC, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, PDRM FC and Penang.
The teams in Group A are Terengganu, Perak, KPT-PST Mustangs, Sarawak, ATM, Shah Alam City, Kelantan United, Negri Sembilan, Selangor TOT United and Kedah.