JUBILANT MOOD: Taib (second left) receives the 2013 Premier League trophy from Sarawak captain Mohd Shjahrol Saperi.
KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud have wished the Sarawak football team well and hopes that the team continue to enjoy more success in the future.
He was speaking during a Breaking of Fast event with the Sarawak Football Association (FAS) excos and Sarawak players at his residence in Demak Jaya here last Saturday.
He congratulated the team for their recent success in winning the 2013 Premier League and he hoped that it will become a catalyst for Sarawak players to chart more success and excellence.
With the spirit of Sarawak through its battle cries “Encang Encang” and “Ngap Sayot”, he too opined that the players has got some extra tonic to face their opponents.
“I am proud that Sarawak have once again rose to prominence in Malaysian football and with the team being crowned 2013 Premier League champions, we have proven ourselves that we are capable of competing at the national level,” he said.
During the event, the 2013 Premier League trophy was also showcased to Taib.
Earlier on, Taib and his wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib performed the Maghrib, Isyak and Terawih prayers with the FAS excos and Sarawak players. Prayers were led by State Imam Chief Ihsan Haidzir.
Also present during the prayers were Youth Assistant Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang, Muara Tuang assemblyman Dato Sri Mohammad Ali Mahmud, Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Muara Tuang members.
Among those present yesterday during the Breaking of Fast were FAS President Datu Sudarsono Osman, deputy president Mohd Abu Bakar Marzuki, Secretary-General Abdullah Julaihi and Sarawak head coach Robert Alberts.
Meanwhile Sarawak will kick off their 2013 Malaysia Cup campaign against Perak on August 20, away in Ipoh.