Team Samarahan line up before the match against Mukah at the Unimas Mini Stadium last Saturday.
KUCHING: Samarahan are full of confidence that 2014 is their year.
They have launched their Sarawak Cup campaign with 2-1 win over Mukah last Saturday.
With the promise of lucrative incentives by the Samarahan Division Football Association (PBBS) patron Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the team expect to go all the way to win the tournament.
The main reason for the opening victory, according to coach Ibrahim Mentali, was that his players executed their game plan.
But he admitted that there is still room for improvement when they take on Betong today at the Unimas Mini Stadium.
“During our match against Mukah, we put on a spirited performance. I more or less hope for the same display of football against our next opponent on Monday,” he said.
Abdul Karim is hoping for Samarahan to win back the Sarawak Cup which they last won in 2008.
PBBS president Haidel Heli exudes confidence in the team’s mission.
“I believe that Samarahan have enough firepower to see off Betong… but whatever it is, Samarahan must win at all cost,” he promised.
But Betong may not be mere push-overs as they had come from behind to shock Limbang 3-2 last Saturday at the Samarahan Mini Stadium.
Coach Mohd Zaidol Mohd Zain admitted that the assignment against Samarahan will be tough but he also believed his players are capable of winning.
Three matches will be played today (Sept 22) at the Stadium Negeri, Samarahan Mini Stadium and Unimas Mini Stadium.
Kick off is 3.00pm.
13 teams are vying for football supremacy in the eight-day state- level tournament.
The final will be played at 8.15pm at Stadium Negeri on Sept 27.