Once-in-a-lifetime chance for budding footballers
KUCHING: Football players between aged 11 to 14 who aspire to play in a top European club can register for the Million Dollar Feet (MDF) football trials which will be held at Padang C near the State Stadium on Oct 8 and 9 starting at 7am.
A minimum of two players from Sarawak will be selected to compete in the final trial to be held in Kuala Lumpur at the Royal Selangor Club Kiara Sports Annexe on Oct 23.
“We hope to see more than 1,000 kids coming for the trials in Kuching,” MDF director of football Peter De Kretser told a press conference at a hotel here yesterday.
The trials in Kuching will be conducted on a one hour basis under the watchful eyes of former Liverpool captain Steve McMahon and five other coaches who will determine the player’s ability based on such criteria as speed, shooting prowess, balance and mental strength.
Once the final KL trial is completed, two players will be f lown to the United Kingdom for ten days to take in the sights and enjoy a premier league match day experience. The expenses of the two player and one of their guardians will be borne by MDF.
A special trial match will then be held at a footbal l school in the UK in the presence of scouts from clubs such as Manchester City, Liverpool, Ever ton and Manchester United.
According to Kretser, if the two Malaysian players fail in the selection, MDF will try to ensure that they could at least enter any other football club in Europe.
Last week’s trials in Pulau Pinang saw MDF selecting two boys and one girl to attend the final trial in Kuala Lumpur.
Trials will be held in Pahang this week before proceeding to Kuching on Oct 8 and 9.
Those interested to enter the MDF trials can register via their website or through a walk-in registration on Oct 8 or 9 at Padang C. T he ma i n sponsor for MDF are Brickf ields Asia College, New Balance, Kenny Rogers Roasters and
100 plus.