Team manager Ismail (standing second row, centre) with Miri Under-19 soccer team and tournament officials.
MIRI: Miri are aiming high in the Sarawak Under-19 Youth Football Championship which will be taking place here starting today (Sept 5) until Sept 9.
Miri team manager Ismail Saual said he sees the venue as an opportunity and a homeground advantage for Miri.
“We are the home team, so I feel our team will have the advantage because we are playing on familiar ground,” he said when met during team practice at the field of Institut Kemahiran Bekia Negara (IKBN) Miri yesterday.
According to him, the players for Miri Under-19 team were all picked during a selection round held over two months ago.
“Almost 150 youths came to try out for Miri’s team but only 22 were selected,” he said, adding that the team are hoping for the best result as they are playing on homeground.
Ismail added that the team have undergone intensive training since the selection round and all the players are in high spirit as well as looking forward to the match.
Miri’s team comprises 16 players from Kolej Vokasional (KV) Miri while others are from Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) Miri and other parts of Miri.
The team recently won the Sarawak KV tournament as well as a third finishing at the national level in Perlis.