SSMS women footballers compete with men in practise match
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Sports School Malaysia (SSMS) comprising national under-17 and under-16 women footballers took on the Bluetooth FC men’s team here over the weekend.
The match played at the SSMS football field was part of the national women juniors’ preparation for the upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-19 qualifiers.
Led by head coach Justin Ganai, the national juniors lost 13 to Bluetooth FC, whose players comprised teachers and civil servants with Md Rizal Ilun as the team manager, Mohd Kamsul Syah the assistant manager and Anizam Zainuddin.
Bluetooth FC took a 3-0 lead through goals by Rozan M, Rizal and Kamsul.
SSMS did their best to match their male opponents but despite creating chances, the frame of the goal as well as good goalkeeping from Bluetooth FC denied them.
The solitary strike for SSMS came from Norshahara Suhaimi, who shot past former state and national striker Zainizam Marjan, who played some minute sin between the posts for Bluetooh FC.
Despite the defeat, the match’s main objective was to give the SSMS players a different kind of challenge as they prepared for the AFC Under-19 Women Football Championship.
Justin is assisted by Pethronela D. and goalkeeper coach Conrad Mojungkim in the national women under-19 set-up.
The AFC qualifiers will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam from October 20 to 29.