KUALA LUMPUR: All the football teams taking part in the Malaysia Cup 2013 have equal chance of winning the championship as the draw for the fixtures is conducted transparently and openly, says Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vice president Datuk Afandi Hamzah.
“The FAM will also ensure that teams from the same state will not be drawn into the same group, to make the championship more competitive.
“We also do not want to see a clash over the same venue,” he told reporters
here today after the Malaysia Cup 2013 fixture draw at the TM Convention centre here yesterday.
Super League champion Lions XII FC from Singapore will take on Perak, Sarawak and Kedah, while Super League runner-up, Selangor is drawn into Group A with the Malaysian Armed Forces, KL Sime Darby FC and Johor.
Group B comprised Johor Darul Takzim FC, Selangor PKNS, Terengganu T-Team and KL Felda United FC, while Group C comprised Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan.
Afandi, who is also Local Competition Committee chairman said the FAM would further ensure that the Malaysia Cup 2013 match schedule would be structured appropriately. The first group match will begin next Aug 20.
The competition is mainly sponsored by Watson’s Personal Care Stores Sdn Bhd.
According to its marketing and development director Jessica Ng, the involvement of the company as the main sponsor for the competition was part of its corporate social responsibilities and its first in the sporting arena.