Fingers crossed, LionsXII open Jan 10 campaign with Selangor

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KUALA LUMPUR - Coach V Sundramoorthy's pre-season with the LionsXII has kicked into gear.

Their football adventure across the Causeway flags off with the Malaysian Super League (MSL), which is scheduled to kick off on Jan 10.

Ahead of this afternoon's MSL draw that will determine the fixtures for 2012, some here want a LionsXII opening fixture that will set pulses racing.

And there is nothing bigger than a renewal of the storied Singapore-Selangor rivalry to kick-off the Republic's return to Malaysian domestic football after 17 years.

Selangor fan Suhairi Idzuan, 24, told Today: "It'll be great if we play Singapore in the opening game. We're obviously excited. Every year we look forward to the Sultan of Selangor's Cup to see our team play Singapore ... even if the game is held in Singapore, we'll travel to watch it."

The Sultan of Selangor's Cup has been held every year for the last decade to celebrate the rivalry - and friendship - between Selangor and Singapore. Singapore won the last game in October, beating Selangor 1-0 in front of around 70,000 fans at Shah Alam Stadium.

"Having Singapore back in the league will be good for football in both countries, and it will help kick things off with a bang if it all starts with the Singapore-Selangor rivalry," said Mr Fauzi Omar, a retired journalist who covered Malaysian football when the Lions plied their trade in the competitions. "That is a game I will definitely travel to watch."

Integrated marketing company Kingsmen will construct two corporate boxes at the Jalan Besar Stadium, in addition to the 2,000 seats they will build at the King George's Avenue end.

An opening encounter against Selangor will probably fill the new 8,000-capacity of Jalan Besar and also see the corporate packages snapped up, if the opening fixture is a home game for the LionsXII.

But Malaysia coach K Rajagobal believes there will be heightened interest no matter which team draws Singapore in the opener.

"Singapore has been out of the competition for so long and the state teams are looking forward to playing them again," he said. "Perhaps a match-up against Selangor would be better saved for midway through the season, when both teams are challenging.

"It remains to be seen if Singapore's return will actually make things more interesting. I'm sure we'll get a better picture after five games or so."

Malaysia and Selangor legend Soh Chin Aun is sceptical about the Singapore effect on the MSL, although he believes any opening fixture featuring Singapore will draw interest.

And he hopes the LionsXII will not be a weak team.

"Singapore should put the best team in now that they're coming back," said the 61-year-old former defender. "If the team is virtually Singapore's national side, Malaysian states will look to beat them.

"It is important for Singapore that the team is a good one."