SIBU: Sibu Football League defending champions V8 FC will take on last year Sibu FA Cup champions Nazario as the curtain-raiser for the Sibu Football League which begins at 3pm today at Tun Zaidi Stadium.
Assistant Minister for Youth Development and Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah is expected to perform the kick-off.
Sibu FA secretary Abdul Hajis Abdullah invited local football enthusiasts to the opening match, saying it would be an exciting tussle.
Hajis said V8 FC still retained most of the players who helped the team lift the title last year to bag the RM3,000 prize money and a trophy.
For Nazario, he predicted the team would be stronger this year after signing several import players from areas like Balingian, Mukah and Kuching.
Sibu League comprising Divisions I and II was incepted last year.
From eight teams last year, Hajis said they had increased it to 10 teams for Division I this year while for Division II, the number had increased from 13 last year to 14 this year.
The 10 teams in Division I include last year champion V8, first runner-up Bushna Nazario, second runner-up TZ FC and Rascom, Miskal, Mikas, Rimba Hijau, Busana, DDFC and Sibu Medical Club.
DD FC and Sibu Medical Club earned the promotion after emerging champion and first runner-up in Division II last year.
For the Division II, the teams include FC Vyper, Cygnus, Sentosa Junior, Braso, UPP Engkilo, Singgah Selalu, Tanjong Sherikh, Petra Giant, Edu, Frenz 49, BNS, Tian FC, Cheetah and Pebedas.
For Division I, Rascom FC will take on Sibu Medical Club on March 29 at 2pm, to be followed by DDFC against Miskal FC at 4pm.
In Division II, to be held at Prison Field, Tian FC will meet Sentosa Junior on May 29 at 4pm and TJG Sherikh against Pebedas FC on April 3 at 4pm.