Courtesy: The Star

Futsal tourney for the media

By STUART MICHAEL

TAKING a cue from the ongoing 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals, Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) will hold an Inter-Media Futsal tournament at Rio de Futsal in Subang Jaya on Saturday.

Unlike other corporate companies that hold media appreciation events in popular nightspots, Bernas decided to organise something different to create excitement among members of the media.

Bernas chief financial officer Mohd Nazri Shariff said they decided on the futsal tournament as World Cup fever gripped the media.

“Gauging from the response , it will surely be an exciting tournament.


“This is the first time we are organising a futsal tournament for the media. Our aim is to foster a better relationship between Bernas staff and members of the print and electronic media in Malaysia,” said Mohd Nazri at the futsal draw in CP Tower in Petaling Jaya recently.

Each print and electronic media organisation was invited to send a women's team and a men's team for the tournament.

A total of 20 men's teams and 16 women's teams have been entered for the tournament. The teams in each category will be divided into four groups and the top two in each group after the preliminary round will advance to the quarterfinals.

Teams must comply with FIFA Laws of the Game of Futsal 2004.

Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd circulation senior manager G. Damodaran represented the company's men's team while IT analyst Leng Sau Foong and circulation executive Nur Afzan Abd Adziz represented the women's team at the draw,

Leng said that the women's team should do well as they had been training twice a week under a qualified coach since January.

“If other media teams do not have import players, we could do well,” said Leng.

The top three teams in each category will receive PM2,000, RM1,500 and RM1,000 respectively.

The organiser has guaranteed that no team will go home empty-handed. Prizes that include a television set and a handphone will be up for grabs in a lucky draw to be held during the prize-giving ceremony.



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