KUALA LUMPUR: THE competition is expected to be as fierce as ever at the Datuk Chu Ah Nge International Junior Soccer Tournament this year as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Organised by the Royal Selangor Club (RSC), the competition has over the years consistently attracted top talent from around the region and the event, which will be held on Dec 6-7 at the RSC Sports Annexe in Bukit Kiara, will be no different this season.
Organising chairman Kanagarajah Vadivelu said the competition will remain in the same format but is likely to see the inclusion of a few new faces.
“We will still have the same five age-groups with the Under-8s providing a chance for the younger kids to have a first taste of competition,” said Kanagarajah.
“Our older age groups such as the Under-14s and Under-16s are also catered towards giving selectors the opportunity to have a look at the talent and maybe further develop them.
“We are expecting teams from Vietnam to compete this season, which would be a first, as well as those from Singapore and India.
“I believe defending champions JSSL (Singapore), CIMB-YFA and Bintang Biru will again emerge as among the contenders this season as they are all very formidable sides.
“RSC will also be competing and we should at least make the top-four in the standings.”
Only clubs that have the complete teams for all categories— Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16— are allowed to compete.
Points are given for the performances of every team and the club with the most points combined from all age groups will take the overall title.
RSC has also been actively running a junior football development programme since 2002 which caters for children from the age of six to 16.
The initiative is currently spearheaded by local football greats Datuk M. Karathu and Datuk Santokh Singh and is supported by seven FA of Malaysia certified coaches.