The first- and second-round draws for the 2018 Malaysian FA Cup were made on Monday. While all eyes are surely on the second round, in which Malaysian Super League and Premier League teams will begin their participation in early March, the first round is equally interesting due to the involvement of several social league and amateur teams, happening for the first time in the competition's history.

Here’s a quick rundown on those nine outfits as they prepare for their maiden appearances on February 13.

SRCC KUALA KANGSAR

Current league: Amanjaya Perak League



The club from Perak's royal town beat defending champions Ipoh Timor 2-1 in the final to win the third season of the football development league last March. Interestingly, as the league is an age-restricted competition, allowing each competing team to have up to five player aged 20 years old and above only, Kuala Kangsar are mostly made up of teenagers. Despite the FA Cup having no such age restriction, team manager Mustafa Shah said the team will not be tweaked too much for the match against Axis-O2.

JERANTUT FA

Current league: Malaysian People's Football League



Representing the north-eastern Pahang district, Jerantut have been competing in the M-League fourth tier since its inception in 2015. In the current 2017/18 edition, they have had their best season to date, advancing to the national stage for the first time and being drawn together in Group C as Bandar Baharu, Kepong and last year’s champions Gua Musang.

JEMPOL DISTRICT COUNCIL

Current league: Malaysian People's Football League



Jempol have not found success in the People's Football League, but they are among the strongest Negeri Sembilan district clubs. Last year, besides lifting the Tuanku Cup in January, they won the Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Haji Hasan Cup, defeating SAINS (Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan) FC 1-0 thanks to former M-League defender Yosri Derma Raju's goal.

CNA FC

Current league: Klang Valley League Division 1



Led by founder and captain Fajrul Hafiz and coached by Suresh Singh Dhillon, Central News Agency (CNA) FC were established in 2016 with mostly Bukit Bntang Boys’ Secondary School and La Salle Petaling Jaya alumni. They competed in the Malaysian Social League in their first year, finishing second, and have been playing in their current league since 2017.

PIB FC

Current league: Klang Valley Super League



Started off as a veteran team, Persada Integriti Bersatu (PIB) FC were officially formed as a football club in September 2011 with President Cup players released by M-League clubs, aiming to help continue their development at lower levels. Now entering their eighth year, the team also boast former UiTM, Perlis and Negeri Sembilan players among their ranks. According to team manager Mohd Ikhram, recently two of their players have joined FAS League team AirAsia FC and another two have been recruited for PKNS’ President Cup squad. They also competed in the Selangor Champions League last year, finishing runners-up to Axis-O2.

SOUTHERN FC

Current league: Setia Alam Football League

Great bunch of lads. What a journey it has been for us in SCL 2017 this season. We weathered the storm as a team. We savoured victory as a team. Couldn't ask for more. #southernfc

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Named after a township in Klang, the club have been around since the turn of the millennium and enjoyed various success over the years. Their accomplishments included winning the Petaling Jaya Social League, Setia Alam Football League and Setia Alam Cup on numerous occasions, and participating in the last two Selangor Champions League. Their notable playing staff in amateur football are national futsal player Saiful Aula Ahmad and former Kuala Lumpur defender Jeremy Danker.


AXIS-O2 FC

Current league: Klang Valley League Division 1



The Petaling Jaya club made the headlines at the end of last year when they won the second edition of the Selangor Champions League, beating PIB FC in a penalty shoot-out after drawing 1-1 in regular time. They were also 2016 Klang Valley Super League winners and two-time JES League champions.


REAL CHUKAI FC

Current league: Terengganu Amateur League



They became the 2017 Terengganu Amateur League champions after overcoming Terengganu Malay Football Association 3-2 in the final. The victory also earned them the right to represent the league against a Selangor Champions League All-Stars side in the first-ever Malaysian Amateur Cup, which they won 2-0.

INVICTUS FC

Current league: KLFA League Division 1




As you can guess, they got their name from the acclaimed film of the same name after 1MCC chairman Dato' Chan Tien Ghee was captured by the spirit of the movie. The club were formed in 2016 to provide a pathway for aspiring footballers from the 1MCC Football League, which focuses on grassroots football development, after they turn 17 and do not get offers from professional clubs. Coached by Zahrill Wan Ramli, they earned promotion in their first season in the KLFA League and are now competing in the first division. Most of their players are between 17 and 21 years old.