KL's debutants looking good (The Malay Mail)

KUALA LUMPUR, ardent suporters of the FAM Cup, have entered two new teams
for the tournament that kicks off tomorrow.
 The two teams are Maybank and Malay Mail, who emerged champions and
runners-up in last year's KLFA Dunhill League.
 However, missing in the FAM Cup are stalwarts, City Hall SC, who pulled
out of the tournament even though they were among the top four teams at
national level. They even competed in the FA Cup this year.
 It is indeed a sad exit for City Hall who used to boast of big names in
KL soccer. At one time, they were the backbone of the M-League side.
 Even in the local League, City Hall are having problems fielding a
respectable team.
 Thus, it is now left to teams like Maybank and Malay Mail to keep the
city flag flying high as the new representatives in the national League.
 Both the bankers and the newspaper teams had to compete in the national
qualifying tournament earlier this year to earn the right to compete in
the FAM Cup.
 The debutants, drawn in different groups, have been preparing diligently
with the hope of making an impact.
 Malay Mail have roped in former State and national players S.
Balachandran and T. Gopinath Naidu to name a few.
 Maybank selected their players from their branches from all over the
country and with their own Sports Complex facilities, they must surely be
among the best prepared teams. They are coached by former Penang custodian
and current national women's soccer coach Richard Scully.
 But they are aware they will be up against some tough opponents,
especially those who have been playing the tournament.
 Among them are defending champions Malacca Telekoms who dethroned Johor
FC last year to deny them a hat-trick of wins.
 Then of course, there is Police and Armed Forces who are full affiliates
of the FA of Malaysia. They receive subsidies as much as the State FAs.
 However, both Police and Armed Forces have yet to win the title.
 Teams like Chempaka Textiles, who also played in the FA Cup tournament
this year, have a generous. They have been preparing seriously for the
challenges ahead.
 Pahang LKPP, who have lately emerged as a force to be reckoned with,
have engaged former Pahang M-League coach Yunus Alif. They should be a
team to watch.
 Other teams like debutants Kelantan TNB and seasoned campaigners Kedah
JKR and Kedah PKNK have their own aspirations.
 Everything certainly points to a more interesting tournament.

KUALA LUMPUR MALAY MAIL
 Manager: Faiz Ishak
 Deputy Manager: Ahmad Talib
 Official: Fauzi Omar
 Official: Abdul Wahab Mohamed
 Official: Charles Peter
 Coach: S. Gunasegaran
 Convenor/ Asst. Coach: Tony Mariadass
 Squad: Hasnul Ramlan Khairuddin, S. Balachandran, Masaaud Md Zain,
Alagenthiran Perumal, Sivaprakash Subramaniam, K. Sivakumar Krishnan,
Roshaidi Ramli, U. Supramaniam, Taso Notaras, Bathmanathan Nadarajah,
Azizul Jamaluddin, Ku Azmi Ku Saad, R. Subramaniam, Jegasegaran
Rethinavelu, Chandran Nathan, Mohd Imran Ahmad, Venaigam Packirisamy, M.
Pavalamani, Prem Raj Ramachandran, Viajantheran Krishnan, Gopinath Naidu
Thambirajah, Mathen Sundram, Idowe Adenubi Adesola, Sizwe Mchunu, Gunalan
Veerapan.