Courtesy: The AFC.com


MF futsal clinic begins

Wednesday, 01 December 2010

Kuala Lumpur: The participants of the AFC’s community benefiting Midnight Football project started their six-month futsal training at the Sports Planet City Youth Academy (SPCYA) on Wednesday, November 30, 2010 in Ampang, here in Malaysia’s capital.

Of the original 64 youth participants, 38 turned up at the futsal pitch, while the rest either was sick or busy attending their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (Form Five) examinations and are expected to rejoin after they get well or finish the examinations.

Midnight Football is a groundbreaking project under AFC Dream Asia, which is the name of the AFC’s Social Responsibility activities and is the theme of its commitment to social development.

The Midnight Football programme, piloting in Malaysia, runs from October 2010 to April 2011 and aims to help troubled U-18 youth in the Kuala Lumpur area to get ‘Off the Street, On the Ball’.

On Wednesday, the youth underwent a warm-up session and an introductory briefing by SPCYA Head of Futsal and Soccer Development Mohd Sulaiman Gerrard, assisted by one of the Midnight Football coaches from the Football Association of Malaysia Mohamad Ishak Mohamad.

During the briefing, Gerrard stressed on the importance of punctuality and discipline to the participants.

“You must come to the futsal training sessions on time and in full uniform, complete with shin pads and futsal shoes. We want you to start behaving like a pro from day one.

“You will be with us for the futsal clinic twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from now until April next year. You must grab this opportunity provided to you by none other than Asia’s top football governing body, the AFC.

“You should use this chance to improve your football skills, personal and moral character, and who knows, you may become somebody after the programme if you work hard. It’s all up to you.” he said, adding that on Thursday (Nov 2), the training proper will begin.

AFC Social Responsibility Director In Gill Ra said apart from the futsal clinic, character and team building activities will be carried out twice a month over the weekend.

AFC has been praised by the NGOs and senior Malaysian government officials for choosing the Southeast Asian nation as the pioneer of the project involving the public and private sectors as well as NGOs and higher leaning institutions, with other member associations of the AFC hoped to follow suit.

Midnight Football is a first in Asia and Malaysia to use the power football as an agent of change to influence troubled and unguided youth to become self governing and contributing citizens to the community.

The participants come from various background, ranging from troubled students and unemployed youth to youngsters committed to the government’s reform school.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com