KUALA LUMPUR: With all eyes on heavyweights Johor and Royal Malaysian Police, Selangor are more than happy to go into the Agong’s Cup (Sept 6-Oct 26) as underdogs.
Selangor team manager Shahizam Tukiran said the squad are looking to build on their performances from last season when they made the semi-finals for the first time in over a decade.
“We hope to continue to build on our performances from last season and hopefully reach the final this year,” said Shahizam recently.
“We consider all teams to be dangerous. No team goes into a long competition such as the Agong’s Cup, unprepared.
“Police, as the defending champions, and Johor have especially put a lot of effort into preparing their squads.
“Selangor would, however, prefer to remain as underdogs.”
Selangor locked horns with Johor – finalists last year – in a friendly match at Padang Astaka, Petaling Jaya yesterday (Aug 23). Johor won 33-26.
Malaysia Rugby (MR) last month announced that they will allow Agong’s Cup teams to field up to three expatriate players who have stayed in Malaysia for at least five years as well as one naturalised player this season.
This is in addition to the three imports which have traditionally been allowed in the competition.
Shahizam said Selangor will look to capitalise on the new rulings.
Selangor’s Ryan Long and Lee Chapman both qualify to play as naturalised players as the England-born duo have both played for the Bunga Raya squad.
“We believe we have an advantage with this (new rulings) and we have already identified suitable (expatriate) players based on their performances during the Selangor League earlier this year,” said Shahizam.
“We plan to fully utilise the expatriate player quotas and have also secured the services of a number of Fijian players.”
The new rule is to allow the national body to identify more expatriate players who have the quality to represent Malaysia in international competitions.
On a separate note, MR secretary-general Fahmy Jalil said the Agong’s Cup competition is likely to start earlier in the season next year.
“We will be using this year’s Agong’s Cup to select players for the Southeast Asian Rugby Federation (Searf) 15s Championship which will be held next year,” said Fahmy.
“We are also looking to bring forward the Agong’s Cup in the calendar next season. This is to help prepare players for the Bunga Raya squad.”
The inaugural Searf Championship is expected to be held in July next year though the venue for the event has yet to be confirmed.
It is unknown whether the Asia Rugby Championship Division One competition will be held next season.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
