KUALA LUMPUR: The Sepak Takraw League (STL) Champions Cup, which was derailed midway when the movement control order (MCO) to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in the country was reinstated on Jan 13, will resume from March 2 – 5.
Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president Datuk Seri Ahmad Ismail said it came as a big relief to the association after the government gave some leeway to continue sports training via the “sports bubble” concept but subject to stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs) from Monday.
“We will settle the remaining 13 matches from March 2-5 which will be run based on the sports bubble concept whereby all the players and officials will stay at a quarantine centre to be arranged by PSM,” he said in a statement today.
Ahmad said he hoped all the players and officials will comply with the SOPs set by the National Security Council (MKN) and PSM.
Yesterday, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced that the government has decided to allow centralised training programmes for the Malaysia League (football), Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) and Sepak Takraw League (STL) to resume from Feb 15.
Ahmad said the decision also enabled PSM to prepare its players for the upcoming 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.
“I also hope, with this development, all teams that will be undergoing centralised training in the states will comply with all SOPs set. They either have to opt for quarantine-based centralised training or home-based training,” he said.
PSM also thanked MKN, the Health Ministry and the Youth and Sports Ministry for the leeway to allow sports activities to continue.
The association singled out Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican for his tireless efforts to facilitate this.
PSM, prior to this, had to postpone the STL Champions Cup after it got underway in Iskandar Puteri, Johor on Jan 10 and was to end on Jan 16. The MCO to restrict the people’s movements to curb the pandemic is scheduled to end on Feb 18.
The tournament involves the six best teams in the Premier Division of the STL namely this season’s champions Kuala Lumpur Thunders; ATM Guardians; Johor Tigris; Negeri Sembilan Antlers; Kelantan Warriors and Penang Black Panthers and the top two teams in STL’s Division One – Bomba Fighters and Putrajaya Cyborg. – Bernama
