A RECORD 62 teams, including nine newcomers, will be participating in the 23rd Penang Sports Club (PSC) International Soccer 7’s tournament at PSC on March 2 and 3.
The newcomers are Brickwork Boys (Singapore), Ark 7 Veterans (Singapore) in the Veterans category, Jianxi Rainbow FC (China), FCOB (Singapore), Ark 7 Veterans (Singapore) and Bali Bulldog (Bali) in the Masters category, and Permata Hijau (Brunei), Singapore Recreation Club (Singapore), YFC Veterans (Brunei) and Mimpagat Borneo FC (Sabah) in the Grand Masters category.
Acting organising chairman Balasubramaniam Alagusundaram said 60 per cent of teams are from overseas while the remaining teams hail from various locations in Malaysia. Last year, 56 teams took part in the tournament.
This year’s foreign teams include New Zealand, Australia, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Maldives and Brunei, while local teams span from Kedah in the North to Johor in the South and Sabah in East Malaysia.
“We’re happy to see the growth of PSC International Soccer 7’s from its humble beginnings in 2000 with just 12 teams to now becoming a prestigious tournament.
“The inclusion of several new teams this year is a testament to the increasing popularity of the tournament.
“In fact, we’ve to reject eight to 10 entries because of time limitations within the two-day competition.
“For football enthusiasts, PSC is the place to be this weekend. A number of the players are ex-state or ex-national players. They may be past their prime, but they are still skilful and competitive. Most importantly is that they enjoy good fellowship during the tournament,” Balasubramaniam said at a press conference at PSC yesterday.
Also present were tournament director Datuk Mohd Junid, tournament adviser S. Pathumanathan and technical chairman C. Nadarajan.
Pathumanathan said PSC International Soccer 7’s at PSC over this weekend is also a great opportunity to promote the state’s tourism as it has attracted about 800 participants.
“The foreign participants will seize the opportunity to explore Penang. The PSC International Soccer 7’s has evolved into a premier veteran tournament in the country and is now being emulated by other clubs,” remarked Pathumanathan.
Mohd Junid said the tournament started as a Veteran competition for over 35 years old, but as time went on, the players aged, and the Masters’ category was introduced, and in subsequent years, the Grand Masters’ category was added.
Nadarajan explained that this year’s tournament will feature three categories: the Veterans’ category, the Masters’ category and the Grand Masters’ category.
The Veterans’ category is restricted to three players between the ages of 35 to 40 while the rest must be 40 years and above. The Masters’ category is limited to three players between the ages of 45 to 50 years, with the rest required to be 50 years and above. The Grand Masters’ category allows three players between the ages of 55 to 60 while the remainder must be 60 years and above.
The first of the three finals is expected to kick off at 4pm on Sunday. Following the conclusion of the three finals, the presentation of trophies and medals will take place at the PSC venue.
The teams:
Veterans (18 teams):
Jurong Weston (Singapore), GAP FC (Jakarta), Binjai Putra (Medan), New Zealand Stars (New Zealand), Brickwork Boys (Singapore), Bali Bulldog (Bali), Ark 7 Veterans (Singapore), Hulhumale Veterans (Maldives), Malaysian Grasshoppers (Kuala Lumpur), Royal Sungai Ujong Club (Seremban), OJFC (Kuala Lumpur), IRC Negeri Sembilan (Seremban), MSFA (Kuala Lumpur), Niranjini FC (Johor), Black Eagles (Sabah), PISS (Penang), Old Frees Association (Penang), Penang Sports Club (Penang).
Masters (24 teams):
Jianxi Rainbow FC (China), Trisakti FC (Jakarta), Jurong Weston (Singapore), FCOB (Singapore), Singapore Recreation Club (Singapore), GAP FC (Jakarta), Ark 7 Veterans (Singapore), Soccer Veterans Association (Maldives), Brickworks Boys (Singapore), Maldives Soccer Mates (Maldives), Hulhumale Veterans (Maldives), Bali Bulldog (Bali), Malaysian Grasshoppers (Kuala Lumpur), MRM (Kuala Lumpur), Club X (Kuala Lumpur), Ade H&A (Kuala Lumpur), Black Eagles (Sabah), Selangor All Stars (Selangor), HTC FC (Melaka), IRC Negeri Sembilan (Seremban), Royal Selangor Club (Kuala Lumpur), PISS (Penang), Indian Association Penang (Penang), Penang Sports Club (Penang).
Grand Masters (20 teams):
Permata Hijau (Brunei), Essex La Sallians (Singapore), FCOB (Singapore), Singapore Recreation Club (Singapore), Black Swans ‘A’ (Australia), Black Swans ‘B’ (Australia), Ark 7 Veterans (Singapore),YFC Veterans (Brunei), Singapore Cricket Club (Singapore), Mimpagat Sabah (Kota Kinabalu), Port Rangers (Klang), UKRC (Selangor), Mimpagat Borneo FC (Sabah), Club SC (Melaka), Malaysian Grasshoppers (Kuala Lumpur), Penampang Old Boys (Sabah), IRC Negeri Sembilan (Seremban), Royal Selangor Club (Kuala Lumpur), Fat Boys (Penang), Penang Sports Club (Penang).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi and courtesy of Penang Sports Club