THE 22nd edition of the Penang Sports Club-Cheetah International Soccer 7’s tournament has attracted a record 56 teams.
Organising chairman Dr S. Pandiraja said 90 per cent of the teams are from overseas or other states which have entered the two-day tournament at PSC on March 4 and 5.
According to him, the teams which have confirmed participation are from Maldives (7), Indonesia (5), Australia (3), Brunei (2), Singapore (2), China (1), India (1), South Africa (1), Hong Kong (1), KL/Selangor (13), Negeri Sembilan (7), Sabah (4), Penang (4), Melaka (3), Sarawak (1) and Johor (1).
“All in all, about 700 outstation participants are expected to throng Penang Sports Club field and Penang island for the tournament, promoting soccer and tourism for the state,” Dr Pandiraja said during a meet-the-press session at a luncheon today.
Also present were PSC past president Datuk Dr S. Shankar, who is the tournament adviser together with former state player S. Pathumanathan, technical director Datuk Mohd Junid Mohd Noor, PSC member Datuk Steven Lim, and Penang FC general manager Jeffrey Chew.
Dr Shankar said the tournament started 22 years ago in 2000 with the initial participation of 12 teams.
He added that to cater to the record number of teams, PSC would add an extra field to its existing three fields to run the tournament.
“The PSC International Soccer 7’s has grown tremendously to become the Premier International veteran soccer tournament in the country and the Asian region.
“The tournament is of high calibre because most of the players are vastly experienced and who know about control and strategy. You have to play about six to seven matches to reach the final and you have to be fit,” Dr Shankar said.
Pathumanathan, who featured for the Penang team from 1979 to 81 as a defender, said the PSC International Soccer 7’s has been included in the Penang tourism calendar for almost a decade.
He said more information is available in the Penang state government official link: https://mypenang.gov.my/events/all-events/520/?lg=en
Pathumanan, better known as Pathu, added that most of the teams will parade many ex-internationals or ex-state players in their line-up as in previous years.
He said for soccer enthusiasts, this will be a perfect opportunity to catch a glimpse of yesteryear’s international stars from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Maldives, Australia, South Africa, China, Hong Kong, India and Brunei.
“In the past, former soccer stars like Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Datuk Santokh Singh, Vincent Thambiraja, Zainal Abidin, Khalid Ali, Alen Bajkusa, Thoon Chee Eng, A. Rukumaran as well as Suriamurthi, Sundramoorthy and K. Kanan from Singapore to name a few have shown glimpses of their skills,” Pathu said.
The tournament will be played under three categories, namely the Veterans, Masters and Grandmasters.
The Veterans’ category is restricted to three players between the ages of 35 and 39 while the rest must be above 40 years old. The Masters’ category is restricted to three players between ages 45 and 49 and the rest above 50 years. The Grandmasters’ category is restricted to three players between the age of 55 and 59 and the rest above 60 years old.
The organisers said Penang governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak will officiate the opening ceremony at PSC on March 4 at 9am.
Story and pix by K.H. Ong