HIGHER Education Institution Division One champions Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Perlis hope to make up for their disappointing run at the Education Minister’s Cup last year when the tournament kicks off for a new season on Sunday.
Team manager Zailuddin Ariffin, whose charges have been grouped with Kolej Komuniti Kedah (KKK), defending champions Universiti Malaya (UM) and Help University, said he will not be satisfied by anything less than a title winning performance.
UiTM Perlis, currently coached by former Kedah midfielder Manja Man, had also won the Division One title last season but fell short in the Education Minister’s Cup where they exited the competition at the quarter-final stage.
“Despite winning the league last year, we did not fare as well at the Education Minister’s Cup as a number of our key players had completed their studies and left by then,” said Zailuddin.
“Our goal is to win it this year but I am expecting the tournament to be to tough from the group stage itself.”
The top-eight finishers from Division One, top-four from Division Two, top-two from Division Three, the Borneo Division winners as well as the winner of the playoff between the Borneo Division runners-up and the zonal qualifiers champions make up the 16-team tournament.
Matches will be held in Perlis, Bangi and Cyberjaya. By Fadhli Ishak