Pusingan U

Relief after FAM releases players for FA Cup matches
By S.SIVABALAN

PETALING JAYA: It's a big relief, especially for Selangor and Kedah, as all national players preparing for the AFC Asian Cup Finals next month have been released by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) to play in this weekend's return leg FA Cup semi-final matches. A total of 12 players would not have been eligible for the FA Cup semi-finals if the FAM had not reversed their earlier decision to bar their players in training from taking part.

In Saturday's matches, Selangor take on Kedah in Shah Alam while Perlis will be playing Johor PG in Kangar. After the first leg matches last Saturday, Kedah have a 2-0 lead over Selangor while Johor PG hold a 2-1 advantage over the Northern Lions.

Selangor were the worst affected with six players – goalkeeper Syed Andey Syed Hussain, midfielders Shukor Adan, Mohd Fadzli Saari and Amirulhadi Zainal, strikers Akmal Rizal Rakhli and Mohd Safi Sali - in training. Kedah's three players defenders, V. Thirumurugan and Mohd Fauzi Saari, and striker Mohd Khyril Muhymeen, would have been missing.

The other three players affected were two players from Perlis, defenders Fauzie Naan and Azi Shahril Azmi, and one player from Johor PG defender Hamzani Omar
Taken from The Star