Cup draw kicks off this year's journey

Source

May 16, 2011 SINGAPORE - The RHB Singapore Cup draw threw up some tough encounters yesterday, as the tournament gears up for new champions this year in the country's most prestigious domestic cup competition.

Thai side Bangkok Glass, the 2010 champions, will not return to defend their title and S-League side Young Lions will also sit out due to international commitments as the Republic's under-23 team. That means 11 S-League teams and five invited sides will fight for this year's crown.

One side of the draw could see S-League title contenders Tampines Rovers, Home United and Etoile FC do battle in the latter stages of the competition, while the other sees the five invited foreign sides competing for a spot in the final, along with a possible SAFFC-Albirex Niigata face-off in the quarter-finals.

While the exact fixture list has not been released, the preliminary round will kick off on June 6 and the final will be held on Nov 5.

"It's a tough draw. If we beat Geylang in the preliminary round, we might have to face Home and Etoile later but if you want to win a cup tournament, you have to beat all the big teams," said Tampines coach Steven Tan.

SAFFC coach Richard Bok echoed Tan's sentiments.

He said: "The last two years we were knocked out in the first round, by Geylang in 2009, then by Bangkok Glass last year. Right now we just want to make it past the preliminary round fixture against Phnom Penh ... who are a much improved team."

Commemorating their 50th anniversary, RHB Bank renewed their S$1.5 million title sponsorship (picture) of the Singapore Cup for another three-year term till 2013.

The bank also donated S$10,000 to the Boys' Town and the Jamiyah Children's Home after a 10-team five-a-side charity challenge yesterday morning at the Sports Planet East Coast. SHAMIR OSMAN



Preliminary

round draw:

Left side

Geylang United vs Tampines Rovers, Home United vs Woodlands Wellington, Etoile FC vs Tanjong Pagar United, Gombak United vs Balestier Khalsa



Right side

SAFFC vs Phnom Penh Crown (Cambodia), South Melbourne FC (Australia) vs Albirex Niigata, Hougang United vs Young Tigers (Malaysia), Pattaya United (Thailand) vs Okkthat United (Myanmar)