KUALA LUMPUR – Merdeka Stadium is set to reclaim its status as an iconic football arena as it hosts the 20th edition of the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup (TSSC) on August 17.
The stadium, once the venue where the national football team qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, will be the battleground for Selangor and Singapore after the tournament was last organised in 2019.
“This year’s TSSC holds special significance and nostalgia as Merdeka Stadium is restored to its original form, where the legends of Selangor football were born.
“This is the hallowed ground where they played alongside the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, the late Datuk R. Arumugam, Datuk Santokh Singh and Datuk Soh Chin Ann, who contributed to the national team’s qualification for the Olympic Games,” said Tan Sri Abd Karim Munisar, the chairman of the TSSC committee, to the media after visiting the stadium here today.
The tournament will see both teams competing for the prestigious trophy and RM80,000 in cash. Additionally, a veterans’ match between former Selangor and Singapore players will take place as the opening event.
In the veterans’ category, Selangor have dominated Singapore, winning eight out of 17 meetings.
Karim added that the number of spectators for this year’s edition would be limited, considering the stadium’s capacity was at 20,000, and fans could purchase tickets for RM10.
“We have no issue filling about 20,000 seats. Sitting on the long benches is a throwback to the original set-up, allowing us to relive the past and savour the atmosphere.
“We are also hoping to work on getting a live telecast for the game as this tournament has a huge fan following in our country, particularly in the state of Selangor.
“Currently, the upgrading process of the stadium is still going on, and the stadium developers, PNB Merdeka Ventures, have guaranteed that everything will be ready by February, which includes the upgrading of the stadium lights and also the pitch conditions.
“We also encourage fans to come and watch the games by using public transport to avoid parking issues.”
Inaugurated by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in 2001, TSSC has been an annual event, except for in 2015 due to the haze and the past three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
For the record, Selangor have clinched the title nine times in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019 while Singapore secured the title seven times in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2017.
Both teams shared the championship in 2015 when the match was cancelled due to haze.
The previous edition of TSSC saw Selangor defeating Singapore 1-0. – January 3, 2024