KUCHING: Top scorer Mohd Amierul Ikmal scored the only goal to help Petra Giant FC retain the Allianz Junior Football Camp (AJFC) Malaysia League Sarawak title after defeating Taratian Serian FC in the final held over the weekend.
This year, the Sarawak leg was played on a league basis after last year’s carnival format due to massive interest from teams here.
Amierul, who was also the man-of-the-match, slotted home the goal in the 27th minute of the second half of the match which was a repeat of last year’s final between both teams.
“The team played according to instructions and executed what was required of them as we trained for about two month for this tournament. Matches with Taratian are always close. All in all, it was a tough match but I am pleased with the way we played today,” said Nasrin Hazizi, coach of Petra Giant FC.
SMK Petra Jaya First Touch finished third after beating Basic Soccer Development 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the third and fourth placing playoff.
Following the final, the top 18 players were selected to form the Sarawak team.
The team will compete against five other regions in the Grand Finals from July 4 to 6 at Arena Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ), Subang Jaya.
At the Grand Finals, the players will be looking to impress AJFC Malaysia League selection panel headed by former international, K Gunalan to become one of 10 players selected to participate in the Allianz Explorer Camp in Singapore from July 23 to 26.
The players will then take part in training drills and compete for two spots to be part of the Allianz Explorer Camp in Munich from Aug 22 to 27 where they will be able to train with Bayern Munich’s youth coaches at the team’s training ground at Säbener Strasse.
Meanwhile, AJFC was launched in Malaysia in 2012 and is open to aspiring footballers aged between 14 and 16 years old.
