PENANG Sports Club (PSC) is all set to host its 22nd PSC-Cheetah International Soccer 7s 2023 at its grounds in Western Road on March 4 and 5.
Organising chairman Dr S. Pandiraja said they are delighted that a record 56 teams would be competing in the tournament, which has three categories, namely Veterans, Masters and Grandmasters.
The teams are from Maldives (7), Indonesia (5), Australia (3), Brunei (2), Singapore (2), China (1), India (1), South Africa (1), Hong Kong (1), KL/Selangor (13), Negeri Sembilan (7), Sabah (4), Penang (4), Melaka (3), Sarawak (1) and Johor (1).
“Now with Cheetah on board, it will be a better tournament this year. We can expect some thrilling matches,” Dr Pandiraja told reporters at the PSC tonight.
He added that many club members and individuals have helped grow the tournament which began in 2000 with the participation of only 12 teams.
He expressed his appreciation to PSC past president Datuk Dr S. Shankar, S. Pathumanathan and Michael Lim (who are all the organising committee advisers), tournament director Datuk Mohd Junid Mohd Noor, Soon Yean Sun (treasurer), C. Nadarajan (technical), Datuk Steven, Rahmat and many others for their continuous support.
Soon, 71, for instance, has been playing football since the age of 17 and has been involved with the inaugural PSC 7s since 22 years ago. For 2023, besides helping out the tournament as the joint treasurer with A. Balasubramaniam, Soon will also be playing in the Grandmasters category.
The Veterans’ category is restricted to three players between the ages of 35 and 39 while the rest must be above 40 years old. The Masters’ category is restricted to three players between ages 45 and 49 and the rest above 50 years. The Grandmasters’ category is restricted to three players between the age of 55 and 59 and the rest above 60 years old.
The PSC-Cheetah International Soccer 7s 2023 organising committee members and supporters.
This is the first time that Cheetah has come in as the title sponsor for the PSC International Soccer 7s.
Cheetah Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd marketing manager Chew Chui Yi said her company is getting more involved in the football scene. They are currently the official apparel brand for the Perak Football Club which is competing in the Malaysia Super League.
“Cheetah wants to tap into the football market. We know football has a big following here as well as all over the world.
“We’re taking baby steps, first by making inroads into the local football arena and then hopefully get attached to international teams,” said Chew, who was accompanied by her assistant Caroline Mak at the press conference.
Mohd Junid, a former Penang Football Association secretary, welcomed Cheetah’s presence.
He said Cheetah’s involvement is good for football at all levels, being attached to a high-performance team like the Perak Football Club, the youths and the veterans.
The tournament director said previous PSC International 7s tourneys were held on three pitches, but with a record 56 teams this year, the club has reduced the pitch size to accommodate a fourth pitch.
Pathumanathan, better known as Pathu, said clubs from Maldives and Indonesia are the ones to watch in the Veterans category. There are four Maldives teams, namely Hulhumale Veterans, TC Sports Club, Stelco FC and MSM Club while the Indonesian clubs are Medan City Pratama and GAP FC Jakarta.
For the Masters’ category, he said former champions Jurong Weston, with the services of former Singapore ace striker S. Sundramoorthy and several naturalised Singaporean players, are the firm favourites.
He said the Grandmasters’ category, which has attracted 12 teams, is an open race.
Penang governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, who is also the patron of the Penang Sports Club, will grace the opening ceremony on March 4 at 9am.
The teams:
Veterans category (16 teams):
PISS FC (Australia), Hulhumale Veterans (Maldives), TC Sports Club (Maldives), Stelco FC (Maldives), MSM Club (Maldives), Medan City Pratama (Indonesia), GAP FC Jakarta (Indonesia), IRC Negeri Sembilan (Seremban), Royal Sungai Ujong Club (Seremban), Royal Selangor Club (Kuala Lumpur), MRM ‘A’ (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysian Grasshoppers (Kuala Lumpur), KL Wednesday (Kuala Lumpur), MRM ‘B’ (Kuala Lumpur), Port Rangers (Klang), Penang Sports Club (Penang).
Masters category (28 teams):
Shanghai Football Club (China), Soccer House Kolkata (India), Trisakti FC Jakarta (Indonesia), Binjai Putra FC (Indonesia), GAP Putra FC (Indonesia), VJ Mix Squad (Brunei), Jurong Weston (Singapore), Wing Ho FC (Hong Kong), Soccer Veterans Association (Maldives), MSM Club (Maldives), Hulhumale Veterans (Maldives), King United (Sarawak), Penampang Old Boys (Sabah), Black Eagles (Sabah).
Mitsubishi Motor HMFC (Johor), KRIS FC (Seremban), Royal Sungai Ujong Club (Seremban), IRC Negeri Sembilan (Seremban), Royal Selangor Club (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysian Grasshoppers (Kuala Lumpur), ADE H&A (Kuala Lumpur), UKRC (Kuala Lumpur), FJFB (Selangor), Port Rangers (Klang), Club SC (Melaka), Club X (Melaka), Fat Boys FC (Penang), Penang Sports Club (Penang).
Grandmasters category (12 teams):
Forrestfield ‘A’ (Australia), Forrestfield ‘B’ (Australia), PISS FC (Australia), Highland Park FC (South Africa), Brunei Mix Squad (Brunei), Essex Lasallians (Singapore), Penampang Old Boys (Sabah), Black Eagles (Sabah), Club SC (Melaka), IRC Negeri Sembilan (Seremban), Port Rangers (Klang), Penang Sports Club (Penang).
Story and pix by K.H. Ong