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KUALA LUMPUR – This Friday, December 3, has been declared a public holiday for all federal territories, said minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim following KL City FC’s Malaysia Cup win last night.
The public holiday declaration applies to Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan in line with Subsection 9(2) Holidays Act 1951 for Federal Territories.
Last night, KL City FC produced a scintillating brand of counter-attacking football to stun favourites and defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) with a 2-0 score in the finals of the prestigious Malaysia Cup, ending their 32-year title drought at the national stadium in Bukit Jalil.
KL City, who were known as Kuala Lumpur FA before the privatisation of Malaysia League (M-League) clubs, managed to bag a hat-trick of Malaysia Cup wins during their heyday when they defeated Kedah in the finals on all three occasions in 1987, 1988 and 1989.
With almost 20,000 fans watching from the stands, the first half saw the Southern Tigers launch a series of assaults on the KL City goalmouth, but the City Boys managed to ward them off with some gutsy defending, desperate tackles and outstanding goalkeeping by Kevin Ray Mendoza.
As the jubilant KL City players rejoiced after raising the Malaysia Cup aloft, the crestfallen JDT players could only just stand and watch.
Last night was the first time KL City and JDT met in the Malaysia Cup finals after the privatisation of M-League clubs − although Johor FA did beat Kuala Lumpur FA to lift the Malaysia Cup in 1985.
The Malaysia Cup competition was temporarily halted from 1942 to 1947 during World War II while the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. – The Vibes, December 1, 2021
