LISTEN TO THIS: File picture of Kickalob Football Academy chief coach, Daud Aba (right) in a pep talk to the trainees during their training at Petra Jaya.
KUCHING: Three Sarawak junior footballers are currently representing Frenz United Malaysia in the ongoing Frenz International Cup Football Tournament being held at Petaling Jaya from Dec 28 to Jan 6.Frenz United Malaysia had qualified for the semifinals of the inaugural Under-15 event which is offering a total cash purse of US$100,000. Eight teams including four foreign teams from Indonesia, Iran, the Czech Republic and Thailand are competing in the tournament.
The Sarawak players – Saiful Wazizi Mohd Ali, Rahman Ismawi and Mohd Haziq Hossain – are also students of Frenz United Football Academy (FUFA).
Saiful was previously a student with SMK Tabuan Jaya Sports School and played as a striker before becoming a goalkeeper with his present team while Rahman and Haziq were previously with Kickalob Football Academy at Petra Jaya.
Rahman had played in the left flank for Kickalob FC while Haziq was the team’s right back.
According to Kickalob Football Academy chief coach, Daud Aba the three promising juniors were the only ones from Sarawak selected to join FUFA, a privately owned junior football academy set up in Janda Baik, Pahang.
“Both Rahman and Haziq have done Kickalob proud for being selected to join the academy alongside other promising junior footballers from all over the country,” he said.
The two players had joined his side when they were just 12-year-olds.
Rahman was also previously recruited by Yayasan Sarawak for its Under-15 squad prior to his stint with FUFA.
Daud said that Saiful was selected after he impressed the top brass from the academy while competing in a tournament as a substitute goalkeeper after the first choice goalie was injured.
“Saiful used to be a striker but he impressed the people at the academy with his goalkeeping skills and talents,” he said while praising the junior footballers.
The chief coach of FUFA is Ahmad Fairuz Yunus who had played for Sarawak’s Bujang Senang team in the late 1990s and was the former national Under 14 coach.
“The selection of our junior footballers into FUFA augurs well for the development of the game among the young people and they have shown that there are talented Sarawakians who can excel beyond home shores,” said Daud who is also the head of the competitions committee of Samarahan Football Association.