23/05/2026

SPORTS SATURDAY | MAY 23, 2026

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JDT not unbeatable, says Kuching city coach

Grassroots football gets major boost in Malaysia I N an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle among youths, Cahya Mata Sdn Bhd has stepped forward to organise the 2026 Cahya Mata Cup to develop young talent in football. The tournament, scheduled to run from July to November this year, is expected to draw nationwide participation, involving more than 11,200 individuals, including team employees, staff, and players. Group Managing Director of Cahya Mata Sdn Bhd, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, said that the tournament is organised following the success of the Cahya Mata Football Cup in Kuching last year. “Not only did it give local talent a powerful platform to showcase abilities, positive competition, healthy lifestyle and true sportmanship, it also gave us the chance to connect with communities, families, young people and fans. “With the 2026 Cahya Mata Cup, we hope to inspire even more people across Malaysia through our shared love towards football,”he said during a press conference after the launching in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. During the event, the Sarawak-based company also launched the Team Cahya Mata’s track cyclist squad in collaboration with Malaysian National Cycling Federation. The team features Aliana Azizan, Anis Rosidi, and Amber Yong, while Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri will serve as team captain. All four athletes have experience competing at the national level. The tournament will also feature random doping tests to curb drug-related offences in sport. Held in a league format, the tournament will take place across the country with state champions advancing to a knockout stage before the grand finals in Kuching. The tournament is designed to provide a competitive platform for non-professional grassroots players aged between 16 and 35. More than RM700,000 in prize money will be up for grabs throughout the tournament, with the national champions set to receive RM100,000, while each state-level winning team will earn RM20,000. Ű BY ZIKRY MARZUKI THE Malaysian Boxing Federation (PTM) is con sidering legal action against former national team assistant coach from Thailand, Keattisak Teankam, for implying that the governing body was unfairly demanding payments from him. PTM president Datuk Iruan Zulkefli said the federation viewed the allegations seriously, describing them as lies and defamatory, which have tarnished the association’s reputation. “First, we will send a letter to the Thailand Boxing Association. Second, if he does not take down the video, we may take civil action,” he said at a press conference yesterday. He said this when commenting on Keattisak’s recent upload of a video believed to contain allegations against PTM. Addressing the claims raised by Keattisak, Iruan explained that the payment in question was actually related to house rental and an advance payment given at the early stage of his service. According to him, Keattisak has also yet to settle an outstanding debt of RM9,100. He added that the National Sports Council (MSN) had not failed to pay his salary until the expiry of his contract this June. “MSN paid his salary two days ago, amounting to RM17,600 for May and June. So, we actually do not owe the individual any thing. In fact, he is the one who owes us (PTM), as he still has an outstanding debt with us,” he said. – Bernama PTM hits back at Thai coach

KUCHI N G CITY FC head coach Aidil Sharin Sahak believes Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are not unbeat able and says his side have every reason to believe they can chal lenge the Southern Tigers in the 2025/26 Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tonight. He said Kuala Lumpur City FC’s 2-0 victory over JDT in the 2021 Malaysia Cup final at the same venue had shown that even the country’s dominant side could be overcome on the big stage, add ing that belief and hard work would be crucial for his players.

Nigerian centreback.

our very best,” he told the pre match press conference yesterday. Meanwhile, captain James Okwuosa said anything could happen in 90 minutes and stressed that Kuching City’s focus was on creating a historic victory rather than merely reaching the final. “When you win, you create his tory and people remember you for it. Like the coach said, we are not coming here just to make up the numbers, we’re here to com pete and show the difference. “As long as it is 90 minutes, any body can be defeated,” said the

According to him, Kuching City were not travelling to the final merely to make up the numbers but to compete and give their supporters from Sarawak a per formance to be proud of. “The example is already there. Football is all about belief and hard work. Like I said, we cannot control the result, but we are not coming here just to participate. “We are here to give our best and we do not want to disappoint the Sarawak fans who travelled all the way here just to watch a bad game… we have to push our selves to the maximum and give

He said Kuching City are focus ing more on their overall perform ance rather than putting excessive attention on stopping JDT’s attacking players. “We cannot just talk about Bergson (da Silva) alone as once you qualify for the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) competi tions, you will face even more quality strikers like him. If you focus too much on certain players, then you can lose because foot ball has many competitors with different skills and abilities,” said the 35-year-old player. – Bernama

Selection dilemma Southern Tigers sweat over line-up; Arif Aiman boost ahead of Malaysia Cup final

FROM LEFT: Kuching’s Aidil Sharin Sahak, James Okwuosa, JDT’s Bergson da Silva and Xisco Munoz pose with the Malaysia Cup trophy during a press conference ahead of the 25/26 Malaysia Cup final at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil tonight. – BERNAMAPIC

J OHOR DARUL TA’ZIM (JDT) head coach Xisco Munoz admitted he is facing a selec tion dilemma ahead of the 2025/26 Malaysia Cup final against Kuching City FC at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tonight (9pm local time). The Spanish tactician said the abundance of quality players in the Southern Tigers squad, coupled with league regulations involving the combination of foreign and local players has made the selection process more challenging. “It’s difficult to choose our best level tomor row because we have a lot of players and very good players. For the capacity and the rules, we can only put a certain level. “We also need to understand the combina tions between the foreign players and the national players. We need to try to choose which is the best option for the first eleven, and it’s not only about the names,” he told a pre-match press conference yesterday. Munoz said things would be easier if the team could utilise the entire squad without restrictions but accepted that the challenges

focus to ensure JDT close an impressive cam paign on a high note. “We want to close the season properly because it has been an amazing season. We will try to give our best and end the campaign in a good way. “The challenge is that we are playing against a team that only conceded 14 goals throughout the league season. Every time we played against them, the matches were always very close,” he said. JDT are chasing their sixth Malaysia Cup title after winning the competition in 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 and the 2024/25 season, while Kuching City under the guidance of Aidil Sharin Sahak have the opportunity to create history by lifting the trophy for the first time. Tomorrow’s match will be officiated by four high-profile match officials from Qatar as part of the Malaysian Football League’s effort to ensure officiating standards are at the highest level, in line with the reputation of Malaysia’s oldest and most prestigious football competi tion. – Bernama

are part of the situation his side must deal with. At the same time, he said national sensa tion winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi could make his return after being sidelined for about six months while undergoing treatment for a hamstring injury. Arif Aiman sustained the injury during the match against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on Nov 18 last year. “We need to understand that Arif has been out for a long time without playing. There is also pressure on us if Arif comes back tomor row. He surely needs more time to regain his condition and return to his usual level but tomorrow, Arif is in the squad list,” he said. Munoz expects a stern test against Kuching City, who have emerged as one of the standout teams this season after finishing second in the Super League. He described tomorrow’s final as a clash between the two best teams in the country and stressed the importance of maintaining full

Bergson vows to avoid repeat of 2021 heartbreak JOHO R DA R UL TA’ZIM (JDT) pro lific striker Bergson da Silva is determined not to relive the Southern Tigers’ painful defeat to Kuala Lumpur City FC in the 2021 Malaysia Cup final ahead of their title showdown against Kuching City FC tonight. The 35-year-old Brazilian said “After that final, we suffered a lot and we really felt the pain of that defeat. I am one of the players who still remembers that day until today. “After that, we promised each Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. Bergson said the 2021 defeat served as a major lesson for JDT to continue improving while main taining the style of play that has become the team’s strength. He added that JDT have not suf

match officials from Qatar, Bergson said JDT viewed it as a positive for the game. “It is always good for us when we have the opportunity to improve our level in the game, together with the referees as well… for us, the advantage is stay ing united and being one team. As I said, we do not need many words. We just need to do our job and try to bring the trophy home,” he said. – Bernama

other that we would never lose the way we did back then – without identity. Today, I know we have an identity and whatever happens tomorrow, we will try to show our identity,”he told a pre-match press conference at the National

fered another defeat in a final since then and hopes the team can maintain their momentum and identity moving forward. Commenting on the appoint ment of the four high-profile

the defeat left a deep impact on the team and became a turning point for JDT to strengthen their identity and winning mentality.