TABS A Bandaraya emerge champions
KOTA KINABALU: TABS A Bandaraya clinched the title in the Penampang Unity Football Club U-18 invitational football tournament that ended here over the weekend.
TABS A collected a total of 17 points after winning five of their matches while drawing the other two to emerge as champions.
Simfield Academy also went unbeaten but settled for second placing with four wins and three draws for 15 points while the third placing went to TABS B.
Eight teams participated in the round-robin tournament jointly organised by Penampang Unity Football Club (PUFC) and Penampang Soccer Coaching Academy.
The others were Sekolah Tansau A and B,PUFC A and B as well as Kota Kinabalu High School.
The champions walked away with trophy, medals and RM300 cash plus one set football jersey and two footballs
The Runner up received trophy, medals and RM200 cash plus one set jersy and two soccer balls while the third placing won medals and RM100 cash plus two soccer balls.
The jerseys and footballes were sponsored by AS Sports.
Meanwhile, the tournament was organised to promote the development of football and to give exposure to young footballers playing in competitive games.
Penampang has been very active in the development of football which is mostly organised by the club for almost a decade.
Organising chairmanJumin Gondikit, in a statement to the press, stressed the importance of having football development.
"Focus should be centred on setting up a football academy which is the right avenue to tap football talents among young players.
"This tournament is a test of their mental and physical capability to expose them in a competitive tournament.
"PUFC together with Penampang Soccer Coaching Academy plan to have this event every year," he side while urging individuals and corporate oraganizations to come forward to sponsor the development of football.
Penampang Unity Football Club president Richard Jomiji officiated at the opening of the tournament while the prize presentation by the club patron Datuk Darel Leiking, who is Penampang member of parliament and Minister of International Trade and Industry.