Selangor Journal

Rugby: Postponement of Agong’s Cup affects Selangor’s mission for glory — Syed Aldrin

PETALING JAYA, Oct 13 — The postponement of the 2022 Agong’s Cup Rugby Championship scheduled to take place from October 22 to November 26 will affect Selangor’s mission to end their 16-year wait for the title.

Selangor Rugby Union president Syed Aldrin Syed Kabeer said the postponement would not only have an impact on the management of import players, but the team also risked losing their services.

“We have identified almost 80 per cent of the players, but there is an issue with import players because there are players based in England who may be going home for Christmas. We are still monitoring this because we have not yet received a new date for the Agong’s Cup.

“It (postponement) also has an impact in terms of the placement of athletes and now there is another issue where there are players that we have secured, but due to the postponement, there are other teams trying to talk to them,” he said when met by Bernama at the Corporate Premier Rugby Championship press conference here, today.

The 2022 Agong’s Cup has been postponed to make way for the 15th General Election with a new date for the competition to be set after the Election Commission announces the dates for nomination and polling.

Commenting further, Syed Aldrin said that in this edition, Selangor was lining up a squad with young and experienced players to realise their dream of advancing to the finals and even emerging as champions.

He said the team had identified players from the Selangor State Rugby League as well as young talents who helped Selangor advance to the final at the 20th Malaysia Games (Sukma) recently.

“Our target is to make it to the final and become champions of the Agong’s Cup,” he said while acknowledging that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) were a force to be reckoned with, having many former national players and import players from Fuji, with Putrajaya and Terengganu the other teams to look out for.

A total of 16 teams have confirmed their participation in the 38th edition of the Agong’s Cup which is to be held following a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Terengganu emerged as champions of the 2019 edition, defeating Sabah in the final.

— Bernama

 

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