SIBU: Title chaser V8 FC lived up to its favourites tag when they easily topped Group B after the completion of the first round of the Sibu League Naim Cup 2012 held at Stadium Tun Zaidi recently.
Enroute to qualification for a semi-final berth, the team swept aside all its opponents when it defeated Cheetah 4-1, Sinar Suria 5-0, PBB 7-1, QLA5110FC 5-4 and Exodust 8-1 to gain the maximum 15 points.
Both QLA5110 FC and Exodust FC bagged 10 points each but QLA5110 managed to secure the semi-final slots on a better goal difference.
QLA5110 had a plus nine goals compared to Exodust with a plus eight goals.
From Group A, the highly fancied Rimba Hijau FC surprisingly missed the semi-final berth, due to poorer goal difference.
Instead, the two semi-final berths went to Aliana Enterprise and Singgah Selalu FC.
Rimba Hijau, Aliana Enterprise and Singgah Selalu FC all collected 12 points but Rimba Hijau had a plus goals of 11, compared to Aliana on 14 and Singgah with 13.
Singgah Selalu’s massive 12-0 victory over Sains FC proved to be the deciding factor at the sad expense of Rimba Hijau.
With the four semi-finalists decided, all eyes will be on the next round held on July 14-15.
V8 FC will cross swords with Singgah Selalu on July 14 at 2 pm., to be followed by the match between Aliana and QLA5110FC at 4 pm.
The third and fourth placings will be played on July 15 at 2pm, to be followed by the final match at 4pm. All matches will be staged at Stadium Tun Zaidi.
The top eight teams in the league would later qualify for the Sibu FA Cup which will be played on a knock-out basis which starts immediately after the Hari Raya celebration.
Sibu FA secretary Abdul Hajjis was happy with the performance of the players thus far, saying they were committed and determined to make their presence felt.
He said the whole purpose of Sibu League Naim Cup was to select outstanding players to represent Sibu in the coming Sarawak Cup which would be held in Miri.
Abdul Hajjis revealed that the Sibu FA had already shortlisted 65 young players to undergo intensive training at the Prison Football field here with immediate effect.
“The players who fail to turn up will be blacklisted and might be forbidden to take part in future tournaments, unless with valid reasons,” he added.