With Aidil-Fitri mood still prevail among football fans in Malaysia, the 2011 Malaysia Cup competition will kick off tonight with matches scheduled to take place around the country.
Holders Kelantan will kick-off their defence in Kuching as they take on promoted team Sarawak in an afternoon kick-off in Group C while last years runners-up, Negeri Sembilan travel to Petaling Jaya to face Premier League Champions, PKNS FC at the MBPJ Stadium in Group B.
In another Group B match, FA Cup winners Terengganu will also open their campaign in the Klang Valley, albeit on the other side of town as they take on another Premier League side, Sime Darby FC at the Selayang Stadium.
Irfan Bakti's side will be relatively unchanged with just Harimau Muda defender, Mohamad Faizal Mohamad being the only addition to the squad that won their first silverware for Terengganu since 2001 with their triumph in the 2011 FA Cup final in May.
However, the experienced head coach will be without the service of young left-back Mohamad Zubir Azmi who is on national duty with the Malaysian Olympic squad that will travel to Japan for their first match of the final round of the 2012 Olympic Qualifier on 21 September. Apart from that, The Turtles will be at their full strength.
Another Terengganu side, PBDKT T-Team will host multiple winners Selangor at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu. Head Coach Yunus Alif will definitely looking forward to get another win over the Red Giants, having done the double over K Devan's boys in the recently concluded 2011 Super League.
T-Team will be without their first choice goalkeeper, Syamsuri Mustafa who could miss the whole Malaysia Cup campaign due to a persistent knee injury. Taking his place between the posts could be POS Malaysia goalkeeper, Mohamad Jibril who is loaned from the Premier League side.
Another loanee in the T-Team squad is Mohamad Fitri Omar, a forward with the Muar Municipal Council during the league season. Both of them will have to be at their best in order to win the hearts of the local supporters who will be hoping for a good result against Selangor.
Below are the complete fixture:
GROUP A - JOHOR vs KEDAH, SABAH vs PERAK
GROUP B - SIME DARBY FC vs TERENGGANU, PKNS FC vs NEGERI SEMBILAN
GROUP C - SARAWAK vs KELANTAN, JOHOR FC vs FELDA UNITED
GROUP D - POLICE vs KUALA LUMPUR, PBDKT T-TEAM vs SELANGOR
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