ROSES AMONG THORNS

Lasses stand up to the challenges of the boys

The Junior Soccer School & League (JSSL)  (2) Under-12 team from Singapore are making heads turn around and the talking point in the 16^th Datuk Chu Ah Nge International 7s football tournament ongoing at the Royal Selangor Club Sports Annex in Bukit Kiara.

 The JSSL (2) is the only team among the total of 80 teams competing in this tournament which is fielding an an all girls teams.

Some teams have one or two girl players in their team, but JSSL (2) is the only team who have a full team of 12 girls.

 

This is the second time that JSSL, one of the biggest football academy in Singapore who been existence for 15 years now, are sending a full girls team.

 

“This team has been around for more than a year and in July, they competed in the Gothia Cup in Sweden (world largest and most international youth football tournament) did well where they won most of their matches in a friendly category,” said Harvey Davis, the Managing Director of JSSL.

 

“We have 150 girls in our school in and these girls are among the best. We have two teams in each of the five age-groups in this tournament and two of our better girl players playing with the boys team - one each with the Under-8 team and Under-10 teams. So in total we have a team of 12 girls and 2 more girls in two teams.

 

“The all-girls team the last time qualified for the plate final, but this time around, we hope to do better this time around in the plate event.”

 

The JSSL 2 team in their opening match in their Group D fixture of the Under 12, lost their opening match to KLYS 2-0.

 

In their next match against the all-boys Brazil School from Hanoi, Vietnam, lost 0-3 and inn their final Group match against Indonesia’s Tangsel Junior Garuda, went down 0-3 too.

"We were up against strong boys teams and it was a great learning experience for the girls. We hope we can do better in the round 2 fixtures," added Davis.

 

A total of 56 local teams and 24 foreign team from five countries are competing in the Under-8’s, Under-10’s, Under-12’s, Under-14’s and Under-16’s categories.

 

Host Royal Selangor Club are fielding teams in all five categories.

 

The foreign teams are teams from Singapore (JSSL FC1 and FC 2), from Vietnam (Brazilian Football School Hanoi), from Maldives (BG Academy and Maldives Soccer Mates), from Indonesia (Tangsel Junior Nusantara, Inspire FC Medan & Medan Youth), from Thailand (Krungkao FC).

 

JSSL who also organise their annual international tournament yearly, have extended a discounted a 50 percent entrance fee for all teams competing in the 16^th Datuk Chu Ah Nge International 7s football tournament.

 

The tournament held in April normally charges S$1,400 as entrance fee per team.

 

“We are strong supporters of the Datuk Chu Ah Nge International 7s football tournament and as our appreciation, we are offering the discounted entrance fee. Also we are aware that with the current exchange rate, it can been expensive for the Malaysians and this discount will certainly help them,” said Davis.

 

Ends.