KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor women will play their sixth Razak Cup final while Sabah make their maiden appearance in the eighth edition of the event at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil tomorrow.
Pedigree-wise, Selangor have it all as they were bronze medallists in the first edition in 2016, won gold in 2017, silver in 2018, gold in 2019, silver in 2020, fifth in 2021 and gold in 2022.
But this has not deterred Sabah coach Hasrul Jideh from wanting to take the trophy back to Borneo in their first final itself.
"During the group stage I could sense that my players wanted to prove their capabilities and when they edged Kuala Lumpur (2-1) in the semi-finals, I knew then that the sky was the limit.
"That is why I told my players to play until the final second of the match and take the Razak Cup trophy back to Borneo," said Hasrul.
With a smattering of seasoned and young players, Sabah's journey into the final has been based on guts and determination.
As for Selangor, their coach Ikmal Abdul Jabar is keeping his fingers crossed to avoid a patterned jinx when they play in the final.
"Every year when we defend our title, we end up with a silver and I hope this time around we will break the jinx.
"I have told my players to enjoy the game, no pressure, and they will win gold," said Ikmal.
In the men's 61st edition of the Razak Cup, both Melaka and Kuala Lumpur ended second in their groups, but knocked out group champions Perak and Pahang respectively.
And in the absence of national seniors and juniors, as well as Hockey 5s players, both Melaka and Kuala Lumpur relied on a young brigade.
"We have a five-year plan for youth in Kuala Lumpur and it looks like some of the players have matured enough to help the seniors in the team to play in the final," said KL coach I. Vikneswaran.
Melaka coach Nor Ikhram Sulaiman said: "We fielded 10 young players in this edition and many of them have shown promise and match maturity.
"One of them (Abdul Bassiq Omar) is only 15 years old and even he did his job when fielded.
"KL have shown great improvement in every match, but we are ready to fight, even if it goes to a shootout, to lift the trophy.
TOMORROW
MEN'S third-fourth: Perak v Pahang (NHS II, 4pm); Final: Melaka v Kuala Lumpur (NHS II, 8.30pm).
WOMEN'S third-fourth: Melaka v Kuala Lumpur (MoE, 4pm); Final: Selangor v Sabah (NHS II, 6pm).