Labuan scouts for young football talent 

LABUAN, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The Labuan Football Association (LAFA) has begun its talent-scouting exercise involving students at 11 secondary schools. 

Its president Sophian Said said these students would be taking part in the Labuan Futsal Championship on Aug 19, organised in collaboration with the Labuan Education Department.

“We will be scouting talent among students of secondary schools including those in the Labuan International School (LIS).

“Those picked will be listed in LAFA’s talent development for reskilling and upskilling,” he said to Bernama today.

Sophian said Labuan had produced a number of good football players who had represented Sabah, Johor and national teams in the past, like Datuk Hassan Sani, Dilbagh Singh, Junaidi Tuah, Hazwan Bakri, Longinus Pius, Ramlan Silamat, Rashid Piut and Gapor Mohammad.

“We will be using these 11 secondary schools as platforms to search for new talent in football, starting at the grassroots level.

“LAFA  is often attuned to programmes that can unearth new talent at the grassroots level including having a football clinic,” Sophian said.

He said the talent-scouting programme would ensure that Labuan continues to produce footballers of high calibre.

“LAFA is in the best position to provide this platform for training young players under the best coaches,” he said.

Sophian said LAFA would continue to seek financial assistance from the Federal Territories Ministry for football development.

-- BERNAMA