Bintulu claim inaugural S’wak Premier Cup title

KUCHING (Feb 15): Bintulu FA lifted the Sarawak Premier Cup, after defeating Samarahan FA 3-1 in a gripping final at Stadium Negeri here on Sunday.

The triumph not only earned Anai Igang’s side RM50,000 in prize money and the prestigious trophy, but also the honour of being the inaugural champions of Sarawak’s newest football competition.

Runners-up Samarahan took home RM30,000.

For Anai, he attributed the victory to the relentless hard work undertaken throughout the campaign.

“We worked so hard for this and it paid off.

“We are unbeaten throughout the competition, and it shows our full focus of coming into the competition to win it.

“The final match was tough.

“We tried hard to come up with a goal in the first-half, but my guess was that we gave our op-ponents too many chances.

“Then, they got a player sent off, and of course, that gave us the advantage.

“In the second-half, we executed a game plan that capitalised on our opponent’s weakness, and the first goal came; followed by the second, and the third one – thank goodness,” said the Bintulu head coach when met after the match.

The grand showdown lived up to its billing as ‘a clash of the titans’, with both sides displaying high intensity since the opening whistle.

Rain came in the 38th minute, adding to the challenge on an already-slick surface.

The first-half was evenly contested, with both teams launching dangerous attacks, but none could convert such chances into actual scores.

Samarahan later had their player Khairul Jemi shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge inside Bintulu’s penalty box in the dying minutes before the break.

Nonetheless, they continued to press.

Bintulu broke the deadlock in the 51st minute through Badrul Hafiz Mohd Isa, who finished off a slick passing move inside the penalty area.

Five minutes later, Samarahan nearly equalised from a corner kick, only for Bintulu to strike on the counter.

Shahmir Izat Sinang capitalised on a defensive lapse, embarking on a solo run from midfield before calmly slotting home for Bintulu’s second goal.

Samarahan responded with three substitutions in the 59th minute in a bid to alter their tactical approach.

Their efforts paid off in the 64th minute when Muhd Zarif Razali bundled the ball in from close range following a corner.

However, Bintulu got back in the 73rd minute, when Mohd Haisal Yusuf struck a shot from a corner delivery.

Samarahan made a goalkeeping change in the 76th minute and came close to reducing the def-icit in the 80th, only to see their effort strike the post.

Bintulu goalkeeper Baharuddin Abdul Samad was instrumental throughout the match, produc-ing several spectacular saves to deny Samarahan any comeback.

Tempers flared late in the game as Samarahan picked up more yellow cards – in the 87th, and 88th minutes – for fouls committed on their opponents.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added, but Bintulu, content in absorbing the pressure and relying on counter-attacks, held firm to seal their historic victory.

The final was attended the Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg together with his chief political secretary and Tupong assemblyman Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman – also the president of Football Association of Sarawak; Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; and Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister and Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Rubiah Wang.