Kuching - Sarawak football team will leave for the 19th Malaysia Games (Sukma XIX) Perak on 6 September for the first group league matches will kick off on 8 September.
The football team managers’ meeting is to be held in Ipoh on 7 September and the football matches in Sukma XIX are to be held in four different locations namely in Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Manjung, Stadium TLDM Lumut, Padang Bandaran Majlis Kerian and Stadium Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.
During the casting of slots, Sarawak was placed in Group A and will play at Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Manjung, Seri Manjung which is approximately 90-minute drive from the capital city of Ipoh. This year’s Sukma host, Perak is also in the same group together with Negeri Sembilan and Perlis.
For the record, Sarawak qualified for the quarterfinal round in the previous Sukma and was among the top two team in their group league matches while the teams to beat in this year’s games is defending champion, Perak and losing finalist, Federal Territory.
Other contenders for the bragging rights and the gold medal up for grabs in this year’s Sukma are namely Sabah, Pahang, Johor and Selangor.
The players representing Sarawak in Sukma XIX football are Shaiful Wazizi Bin Mohamad, Andy Nicolas Anak Nipen, Aquilla Anak Abdul Rahman, Stevenson Anak Unggah, Mohd Fazarul Mahathir, Williy Meling Anak Rabbit, Rivaldo Adrill Anak Wilson, Muhammad Firdaus Bin Fauzi, Mohd Zainuddin Bohri, Awang Syahriman Bin Awang Ahmad, Abdul Rahman bin Ismawi, Mohd Nur Aliff Bin Kepli, Amir Amri bin Salleh, Mohammad Yunus Bin Hasan, Hendry Amir Anak Simon, Amirul Iqmal Bin Bolhi, Mohammad Haziq bin Hossain, Amar Muaz Bin Zamri, Muhammad Yazid Bin Ahzhar, Georgi Kinkladze Anak Tom.
Ahmad Fairuz Yunus is the Chief Coach while Ibrahim Mentali is his assistant and the others accompanying officials are Zulkarnien Mohamad Poasa, Mohd Azley Abdullah (Goalkeeping Coach), Nizam Mahmud, Mohamed Zawawi and Iswandi Ali Hassan.
