After successfully guiding his side to the coveted league title this season, Alagie Sey, head coach of Armed Forces, has revealed that their objectives will be perfectly realised if they can land the FA Cup to make it a double.

The draw for the second most prestigious domestic competition was held last weekend but the Soldiers, who have been given a bye alongside other big guns, will not be in action until the third round where they will meet either Interior, Lower Niumi or Young Africans. And as they still celebrate their first league title in six years, Coach Sey believes the league success will be an added advantage when they enter the race for the FA Cup a fortnight from now. "We want the double and we are going for it because winning the FA Cup will mean that our objectives have been achieved," he told Observer Sports shortly after the weekend draw at the Independence Stadium, Bakau.

"My boys are well motivated for the challenge. Though the FA Cup, which is a knock-out competition, is different from the league, I see no reason why we cannot claim the double this season to repeat the feat achieved by other teams in the past seasons." "With our experience in international competitions like the WALO Cup coupled with better preparations, the final will be our last stop," he concluded.

Meanwhile, the preliminary round for the FA Cup competition will kick-off today with Serrekunda United locking horns with Waterman, while Lower Niumi take on Young Africans. Kaira Silo and Brikama Ba will also battle it out for a place in the first round, while Jambanjelly host Upper Badibou. The four winners in the preliminary will join the top six teams in the second division and the last two teams in the first division for the first round matches, which will be played on the 20th and 21st weekend of June, 2009. The six qualifying teams from the first round stage will then join the awaiting top ten teams in the first division for the third round fixtures fixed between June 27 and June 28, 2009.

2008/09 FA Cup fixtures

Preliminary fixtures
Match 1 SK United  v  Waterman
Match 2. L/ Niumi   v  Young Africans
Match 3. Kaira Silo v  Brikama Ba
Match4.JambangJellyv Upper Badibou

First round fixtures
Match 5. Africell      v           GPA
Match 6. Interior      v           Winner 2
Match 7. SK East      v           Ham Ham
Match 8. Lamin      v           Tallinding
Match 9. Nema      v           Winner 1
Match 10. Winner 3  v          Winner 4

Round of 16 fixtures
Match 11.  Winner 9    v   Winner 8
Match 12.  Winner 10  v    Samger
Match 13.  Bakau Utd  v   Real de Banjul
Match 14.  Gamtel      v     Hawks
Match 15.  Sea View    v   Winner 5
Match 16.  Winner 7    v   Wallidan
Match 17.  Winner 6    v    Armed Forces
Match 18.  Brikama     v   Steve Biko

Quarter-finals fixture
Match 19.  Winner 11  v   Winner 13
Match 20.  Winner 18  v   Winner 15
Match 21.  Winner 17  v   Winner 16
Match 22.  Winner 12  v   Winner 14

Semi-finals
Match 23. Winner 22  v   Winner 19
Match 24. Winner 20  v  Winner 21

Final
Match 22 Winner 23   v   Winner 24