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Saturday September 16, 2006

Juniors show off their talents

By NG WEI LOON

A SK Bandar Utama Damansara 2 player (in red) tussling for the ball with a SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 player during the semi-final encounter.

IT was a chance for junior footballers to show off their talent. The juniors at the inaugural inter-primary school integration seven-a-side football competition comprised mostly Year Six primary school pupils.

It was held at SJK (C) Damansara field in Tropicana, Petaling Jaya recently.

“Besides promoting social integration among students of various races, the whole idea of the programme was to keep them occupied with physical activities after their UPSR examination.

“It was also an opportunity for potential players from Year Three to Year Five to display their talents and earn their places in their respective school sides for next season,” said the school's Parent-Teacher Association sports co-ordinator Joe Tan.

The event organised for schools around the Damansara vicinity drew the participation of six teams - SJK (C) Damansara, SJK (C) Puay Chai 2, SK Bukit Lanjan, SK Bandar Utama Damansara 2, SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 and SK Bandar Utama Damansara.

Teams were divided into two groups of three teams each for the preliminary round round-robin matches.

In the final round-robin match of the day between SK Bukit Lanjan and SK Bandar Utama Damansara 2, hot favourites SK Bukit Lanjan continued their unbeaten run in the tournament with a late goal from striker Zubir Musa's left leg grounder strike to the right corner of the net before the final whistle.

Following the preliminary round matches, SJK (C) Puay Chai and SK Bandar Utama Damansara were eliminated from the knockout competition.

“Initially, we thought that the tournament was scheduled for Saturday. We came with only eight players as we were caught off guard,” said SK Bukit Lanjan coach Hisyarir Mohd Salwi, adding that skipper Visan Longo, 11 was also the youngest team member for the side.

Although host SJK (C) Damansara had the vocal support with the pupils on the sideline to urge the team on in the semi-final against SK Bukit Lanjan, Visan Longo silenced the home supporters with the first two goals in the first half for a 3-1 win.

Rosli Jaga scored the other goal for SK Bukit Lanjan. An unmarked nine-year-old Damien Lim slotted SJK (C) Damasara's consolation goal.

SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 booked their berth to the final with skipper Mohd Alif Haikal's hattrick in a 3-1 win over SK Bandar Utama Damansara 2. Meanwhile, Yeoh Ju Kit scored the sole goal for SK Bandar Utama 4.

In the third-fourth penalty-shootout playoff, SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 edged SJK (C) Damansara 5-4.

SK Bukit Lanjan concluded a perfect outing with a clinical 3-0 win over SK Bandar Utama Damansara 2 in the final.

Rosli Jaya netted two goals and defender Azrin Atak also chipped in one goal.

“We have done reasonably well in football this season. This is the first year in 14 years that we have fielded a team to take part in football competition,” said SK Bukit Lanjan senior assistant Aslian Pios.

This year, SK Bukit Lanjan also captured boys' Under-11 category at the Petaling Jaya City Cup last month.

“We are preparing our side for Selangor Native Schools Sports Festival in November,” added Hisyarir.

The trio of Zubir Musa, Visan Longo (both SK Bukit Lanjan) and Mohd Alif Haikal (SK Bandar SK Bandar Utama Damansara 2) were the hot shots throughout the half-day event with four goals each.

Phor Thor Seksyen 24 in Shah Alam contributed the prizes to participating teams.

RESULTS

Final: SK Bukit Lanjan bt SK Bandar Utama Damasara 2 3-0

Third-Fourth (penalty-shootout playoff): SK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 bt SJK (C) Damansara 5-4.

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