SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor's Cup (TSSC) is more than just a football competition; it is a celebration of the historic rivalry between Selangor and Singapore, as well as the spirit of friendship through sport.
According to the Selangor Royal Office, the TSSC was organised to strengthen the camaraderie between the two main rivals in the M-League of yesteryears, Selangor and Singapore.
"The idea for the event was initiated by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, who, in the same year, was crowned the Sultan of Selangor," read a statement from the Selangor Royal Office.
"Looking back, the rivalry between Selangor and Singapore in Malaysian football was truly remarkable, as these two teams were the most successful in the history of the Malaysian League at that time."
The Selangor Royal Office stated that the TSSC is exclusively centred around a main match between the Selangor Selection and Singapore Selection, alongside a friendly match between the Selangor Veterans and Singapore Veterans.
"Since the Malaysia Cup was introduced in 1921 (then known as the Malaya Cup, later the HMS Malaya Cup), Selangor and Singapore were among the top teams and often clashed in the final to win the trophy.
"In fact, the first Malaya Cup final in 1921 saw Singapore defeating Selangor," it added.
According to the statement, Selangor and Singapore have met in the Malaysia Cup final 22 times, with Selangor winning 33 Malaysia Cup titles, the most recent being in 2015, and Singapore securing 22 titles.
"The clashes between Selangor and Singapore were eagerly anticipated, earning the title 'Malayan El Clásico,' where these two traditional rivals always displayed healthy competition and mutual respect, until Singapore withdrew from the Malaysian League in 1994," it said.
Sultan Sharafuddin proposed the organisation of the Sultan of Selangor's Cup in 2001 to commemorate the great traditional rivalry between Selangor and Singapore, which had brought much excitement to the local football scene.
"The TSSC has been held annually, either at the Shah Alam Stadium or Singapore's National Stadium, with the last tournament taking place in 2019 before it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Over the course of more than two decades, Selangor has won the Sultan of Selangor's Cup nine times, in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019.
"The Singapore Selection team has won seven times, in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, and 2017," it said.
However, in 2004, both teams were declared joint champions, while the 2015 edition was cancelled due to the haze.
"The 2024 edition of the TSSC is considered special as it returns to the historic grounds of both teams at Stadium Merdeka.
"In the latest 20th edition held on August 17, the Selangor Selection secured a third consecutive victory, defeating the Singapore Selection 2-1," it said.
The statement also mentioned that Selangor football legends like Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan and Singapore football legend Fandi Ahmad have expressed their excitement for the TSSC, describing it as a platform to relive the nostalgia of the "traditional rivalry" between the two teams.
"It is hoped that this explanation will provide accurate facts and clearer knowledge to the public, especially the younger generation who may not yet understand or have been misled about the true history of the TSSC.
"It is also important to highlight the symbolism of friendship and sportsmanship celebrated through the spirit of the TSSC as a lesson in combating the issue of sports violence, which continues to plague local football. Stop Violence in Football," the statement concluded.