SHAH ALAM, Feb 4 — Competition in the 2018 Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Cup will be more challenging when only the best four teams qualify for a knockout round to clinch the championship  and earn promotion to the 2019 Premier League.

FAM Local Competition committee deputy chairman, Mohd Firdaus Mohamed said the new format was introduced after receiving feedback from contesting teams apart from making the competition more intense.  

"We received feedback from teams who want a change in the league itself. So from this year, a major change in the structure of the league at youth, president and FAM Cup levels will be made and we hope it would create a more competitive championship.     

"When a certain competition at the lower level is good, it would automatically assist to raise the quality of professional leagues in the country,” he said. 

He was speaking a media conference after the FAM Cup, President League and Youth League draw for the 2018 season here today.

The new format for FAM Cup will start on Feb 25 with two league rounds involving 14 teams divided into two groups.

The top two teams of each group will qualify for the semi-finals to grab a slot in the final which promises two slots to the Premier League next season.

Group A is made of Shahzan Muda FC, MOF FC, Kuching FA, ATM, MPKB BRI-UBES FC, KS DBKL and Selangor United while group B comprises Terengganu City FC, Petaling Jaya Rangers, Perlis, Hanelang FC, D’AR Wanderers, Young Fighters FC and Marcerra United. — Bernama