BY: MOHD FARIQ
MALAYSIA will be represented by two teams in the renowned Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden kicking off this weekend.
TSS Selangor and KL Youth Soccer will be joining the rest of the world in a tournament that is making a return after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Gothia Cup, held annually since 1975, is the world’s largest youth football tournament. This year’s edition features 1,602 teams from 59 nations involving 4,140 matches.
TSS Malaysia, a team run by Tengku Shakirinal Tengku Sulaiman Shah, is taking part in the Under-12 category, drawn in Group 3 with English side, Prep Schools Lions Navy as well as two Swedish teams, BK Hacken 2 and Hammarby IF FF 3. A total of 104 teams from 25 nations will be participating in the age category.
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KLYS has been drawn in Group 13 of the Under-14 category with two Swedish sides, Oviding FIF and Monsteras as well as English outfit, Preps School District.
TSS Selangor. Photo: FB TSS Selangor
Over the years, Gothia Cup was the platform for potential teeangers to sow their first seeds of success. Names such as Andrea Pirlo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alan Shearer and Gordon Durie competed as schoolkids.
TSS is looking forward to a fruitful tournament, having bagged the Yakult Global Cup, central zone earlier this month after finishing runners-up in the Pahang Menteri Besar Cup.
TSS is currently on top of the FAM Suparimau League, Klang Valley zone for the Under-12 category.
Coached by Muhammad Afiq Mohamad Tahir with Muhammad Hazeq Nordin and Yusri Maasom as assistants, TSS has brought 12 players to Gothenburg.
After the Gothia Cup, TSS Selangor will compete in the Dana Cup in Copenhagen.
