Club teams battle for honours again (The Malay Mail)

THE sixth edition of the FAM Cup, played under the League format, kicks
off today with a promise to see more clubs striving for excellence and
securing M-League slots of playing with the "big boys" (State teams).
 With four club teams locking horns in Premier Two this season,
especially Johor FC making an impact with their second spot in the
standings, the Cup only serves as an inspiration for others to join the
`elite' ranks.
 And with the qualification criteria for teams from the FAM Cup more
clearly stated, it will be battle stations all the way from the first
match.
 Unlike last year, when the FA of Malaysia, announced who would qualify
for Premier Two only after the end of the FAM Cup competition, everything
has been spelt out the clubs this time around even before the start of the
competition.
 The FAM Cup champions will automatically qualify for Premier Two next
year with the losing finalists and the two losing semifinalists taking
part in a playoff against the bottom seventh-, eighth- and ninth-placed
teams from Premier Two in September.
 Only three teams from the playoff will make it to Premier Two.
 The 10th-placed team in Premier Two will automatically be relegated to
the FAM Cup next year.
 The competition starts today with last year's Premier Two team Police,
who faltered in the playoff in February, as favourites of the competition
- at least based on their experience of playing in the lower division.
 The other two clubs who will also draw attention from the other teams
are Kuala Lumpur Malay Mail and Kelantan JKR, both losing semi-finalists
in last year's FAM Cup.
 Malay Mail, the newspaper team, especially can expect some stiff
competition from their opponents.
 And today's opener against Kelantan JKR at KLFA Stadium is set to be a
fiery clash.

GROUPINGS
Group A: Kelantan JKR, KL Malay Mail, Pahang Bentong District, Kedah JKR,
Perak Lintau, Sabah Gunusukod.
Group B: Kedah Ansell Kulim, Kuala Lumpur JPA, Sarawak Ibraco, Kelantan
SKMK, Police, Terengganu Perkasa Alam.
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