Team Talk | Issue 6 | Little League Soccer

TEAM TALK THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF LITTLE LEAGUE SOCCER MALAYSIA

KL JUNIOR LEAGUE

KLANG VALLEY CHAMPS

FCKL take Under-12 and Under-14 Junior League titles

p10

IN THIS ISSUE

LEGENDS CROWNED Superstar campers live the lives of football pros

FRIENDLY COMPETITION Little League unite with Dignity for football carnival

ISSUE 6

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

1 ISSUE 6 | WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

2

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

ISSUE 6

CONTENTS

Little League players took to the pitch alongside students from Dignity at the Champions Cup 2016

04 LITTLE LEAGUE NEWS The latest happenings, events and promotions from around the Little League Soccer Community

06 FRIENDLY COMPETITION

10 TAKING THE TITLE

Little League joins forces with the students and staff at Dignity for Children for a day of football fun.

How FC Kuala Lumpur battled to claim the Under-12 and Under-14 KL Junior League top spots.

12 LEGENDS CROWNED Participants arrived at the Superstar Soccer Camp mere youngsters; they left as football legends.

ISSUE 6

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

3

NEWS NEW YEAR RESIDENTIAL CAMP

NEW YEAR

Register now for our final soccer camp of the year!

SOCCER

Following on from the successful Euro Soccer Camp and Superstar Soccer Camp, we’re delighted to introduce Little League Soccer’s next residential event.

Held from 28–30 December 2016 at the KLFA Football Centre, the New Year Soccer Camp is the perfect end to your year of football.

CAMP 2017

BY LITTLE LEAGUE SOCCER

The camp is priced at RM470 all inclusive with an early-bird special until Friday, 16 December of just RM420. That’s full football training sessions, two nights’ accommodation, all meals, certificates, matches, competitions, challenges and more for less than RM500!

KLFA FOOTBALL CENTRE 28–30 DECEMBER 2016

Registration is open online now so why not plan to end 2016 with a bang at the New Year Soccer Camp? For more details, please check with your coaches at the last few training sessions of the year, or see our coverage from previous camps at www.littleleague.my

NEW LITTLE LEAGUE TRAINING PACK

OPEN NOW: 2017 PRE-REGISTRATION

Bags and bottles available with 2017 training kit

Avoid first-day queues; sign up early for the 2017 season

Take your training gear to the next level with Little League Soccer and FC Kuala Lumpur in 2017. For the first time ever, we’re offering an exclusive equipment pack with all registrations next year, meaning you could be walking around with brand new water bottles, bags, stickers and more!

With Little League Soccer closing out the 2016 season at an all-time high in terms of player numbers, we’re preparing for a busy period of registrations come Saturday, 7 January when training resumes. As such, we’re offering players and parents the chance to pre-register and avoid queuing on the first day of training.

Available for pre-order from mid-December or purchase in January, the kits can be bundled with registration fees for RM150 (two jerseys, water bottle, gym bag and stickers) or RM200 (two jerseys, boot bag, water bottle, gym bag and stickers).

4

Pre-registration will be available online from the middle of December, and all pre-registered players will be guaranteed to receive their training packs on the first day of training. Find full details at www.littleleague.my

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

ISSUE 6

A YEAR IN REVIEW

After a season of top results, great growth and exemplary performances, Little League Soccer and FC Kuala Lumpur are set to celebrate the success of teams and players at the FCKL Awards Night 2016. Taking place on Saturday, 3 December, it’s sure to be a night to remember.

Tournaments, trophies, league matches and more – what a year 2016 has been for FC Kuala Lumpur. As the season draws to a close, it’s time to look back on the achievements of our young stars with the FCKL Awards Night 2016!

Following on from last year’s successful evening of celebration, the 2016 FC Kuala Lumpur Awards Night will be held at the KLFA Football Centre on Saturday, 3 December – and all FC Kuala Lumpur players, parents and families are invited.

ISSUE 6

Starting at 7:30pm, the event will feature awards for players of both FC Kuala Lumpur and FC Bandar Utama, with speeches and presentations by select FCKL coaches and managers.

Like last year, there will also be a delicious spread of food including roast lamb, nasi briyani, fried chicken, fish curry, veggies and more!

Awards will be given in each age-group for the Player of the Year competition, with one

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

player from each team also being crowned Most Improved. And, for the first time ever at a Little League Soccer or FCKL Awards Night, we are delighted to be able to celebrate the achievements of not one but two separate academies, in FC Kuala Lumpur and FC Bandar Utama!

DON’T MISS OUT!

LOOK OUT FOR FULL COVERAGE FROM THE AWARDS NIGHT AT WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

5

FRIENDLY COMPETITION

Following three months of weekly football clinics, the students of Dignity for Children joined Little League for a friendly day of football at The New Camp, Bandar Utama. Team Talk caught the best of the action.

As we reported in the last issue of Team Talk, Little League Soccer began a partnership with Dignity for Children earlier this year. Working with staff and students, our coaches led weekly football sessions for Dignity children at both the KLFA Football Centre and at Pusat Komuniti Sentul, near the Dignity school.

With over 100 participants each week, it was a great privilege for Little League coaches to

6

be able to share their knowledge of the game and passion for football with a group of highly enthusiastic children.

And that enthusiasm spilled into the special event held for Little League and Dignity players on Saturday, 17 September. Dubbed the Champions Cup, the friendly tournament brought together Dignity students aged 6 to 16 as well as select Little League Soccer

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

Fundamentals teams at The New Camp, Bandar Utama. With each team given a Champions League club to represent, they played a fun knockout tournament with winners awarded special Champions Cup champion certificates.

Altogether, it was a fantastic morning for all involved, and we look forward to working on future projects with Dignity for Children.

ISSUE 6

LITTLE LEAGUE PRINTS

LIKE THE PHOTOS FROM THE CHAMPIONS CUP? ORDER YOUR OWN GLOSSY PRINTS AT LITTLELEAGUE.MY/SHOP

HAN GE

ISSUE 6

LE A

LE

New initiative aims to help underprivileged children get the equipment they deserve.

LIT T

BOOTS FOR CHANGE

B O OT S F O R C

As part of Little League Soccer’s ongoing partnership with Dignity for Children Foundation, we’ve teamed up on a collaborative charity project that allows you to donate spare football boots to the Dignity children who really need them.

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

GUE x

DIG NIT Y

Named Boots for Change, the initiative aims to provide the children of Dignity with the type of equipment they require to play and learn safely. Boots were collected at the Champions Cup but donations are still welcome at Little League Soccer and FCKL training sessions.

7

GOLDEN BOY

Adam Mukriz takes the Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot awards as Coach Shazwan’s FC Kuala Lumpur team claims the Under-12 KL Junior League title.

8

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

ISSUE 6

ISSUE 6

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

9

TAKING THE TITLE

How FC Kuala Lumpur succeeded in clinching the Under-12 and Under-14 KL Junior League titles in an exciting close to the competition’s third season.

The third season of the KL Junior League came to a thrilling close on Sunday, 27 November as all five age-groups descended on The New Camp for the final round of matches. And with two FCKL teams entered into each division this season, Little League Soccer had plenty on the line.

Without doubt, it was the Under-12 competition that saw the most final weekend drama. In a match that neither manager wanted to lose, our FC Bandar Utama side faced FC Kuala Lumpur. On the line: the KL Junior League title, with the winner of this match securing top spot.

In the Under-8 age-group, Football Talent Asia had already wrapped up the title but our FC Kuala Lumpur team required a win in their final match to secure second place. They managed just that, defeating FC Bandar Utama 14–1 to finish in second with a superior goal difference than third place Ombak FC. FCBU finished their first season a very respectable fifth.

For FC Kuala Lumpur, that would be a fitting close to an incredible season; for FC Bandar Utama it would mark an exceptional step forward for a team that was formed just four months ago.

Next up were the Under-10s, where FC Kuala Lumpur had to beat Astaka to claim fourth place. A solid display saw them score six goals without return, meaning they finished just a place behind FC Bandar Utama in third – a fantastic result for the new academy in this competitive division.

10

It wasn’t to be for Coach Filipe’s FCBU side, however, as a strong display from FCKL saw them wrap up the league title with a 3–0 win.

FC Bandar Utama would have to settle for third place this season, but they will certainly be keen to continue their progression next year.

In another positive for the Under-12s, FC Kuala Lumpur star striker Adam Mukriz walked away from the weekend with two extra trophies,

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

marking his achievements as Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer in the KL Junior League.

Though the Under-14 age-group all but finished last weekend, there was plenty to celebrate for FC Kuala Lumpur. Coach Azizi’s side were named Junior League champions after they defeated Atletico Football Academy 11–0 in the previous round of matches. In an impressively consistent season, they finished on 25 points; one ahead of second place Football Talent Asia and an amazing ten points ahead of third place. FC Bandar Utama, meanwhile, showed early promise with a fifth place finish in their first season.

The weekend rounded out with two matches in the Under-16 competition as FCKL took on Football Talent Asia while FCBU faced second place KLYS. Though KLYS proved too strong for an FC Bandar Utama side who finished sixth in the league, Coach Chris’ FCKL side came out 3–0 winners in their game to claim third place for the season.

ISSUE 6

“IN A MATCH THAT NEITHER MANAGER WANTED TO LOSE, OUR FC BANDAR UTAMA SIDE FACED FC KUALA LUMPUR. ON THE LINE: THE KL JUNIOR LEAGUE TITLE, WINNER TAKES ALL.”

ISSUE 6

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

11

SUPERSTAR SOCCER CAMP

Participants at the recent Superstar Soccer Camp arrived at the KLFA Football Centre as young hopefuls.

After three days and two nights of living the pro footballer lifestyle, they left as Little League Legends.

It was fun and games all round for Little League’s young football Legends at the Superstar Soccer Camp. Taking place at the KLFA Football Centre from 28–30 October, the holiday camp took participants on a thrilling journey to soccer superstardom.

Arriving at the camp as young hopefuls, the players were put through challenges, trials and competitions simulating the path a young professional would take on their way to the top of the sport. Selection trials, press conferences, sponsorship deals and football tests stood between the 38 participants and the title of Little League Legend.

Players from 6 to 14 years old came together in teams as they took on football training sessions and skills challenges that were as fun as they were educational. Activities off the pitch were just as engaging, too, with campers having to keep their new ‘sponsors’ and partners happy though mock TV commercials and other product endorsements.

The camp concluded with an exciting round robin tournament that pitched teams of 3 against each other on the KLFA Football Centre’s main field. Small pitches and goals forced players to demonstrate the technical

12

skills they learned over the weekend and made for a tense end to the camp. After 90 minutes of matches, both the U10 and U12 tournaments were decided on goal difference with the top two teams amazingly level on points after five matches.

Following the games, players and parents congregated at the pitchside cafe for the announcement of the tournament placings and the certificate presentations, before it was time for check out and another highly successful Little League Soccer holiday camp came to a close.

Until next time, everyone here at Little League would like to say a big thank you to the players and parents involved in the Superstar Soccer Camp. We hope you enjoy the photos and videos here and on our website, and we look forward to welcoming you to more youth soccer camps and events in the near future.

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

ISSUE 6

SEE THEM IN ACTION!

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE TV COMMERCIAL CREATED

BY THE SUPERSTAR SOCCER CAMP PARTICIPANTS! SEE THE VIDEOS ON THE LITTLE LEAGUE SOCCER YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR AT WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

ISSUE 6

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

13

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

As the 2016 Little League Soccer season draws to a close, company managing director Andy Johnston shares his thoughts on where the company has come from and what the future holds for our players, parents and coaches at both development and elite levels.

Dear parents,

Many of you will have never met me and may not even know of my involvement within Little League Soccer. However, we have had an absolutely fantastic year at Little League and I wanted to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your support and give you a bit of a preview as to what you can expect in 2017.

Many of you may not know that our company started in Singapore all the way back in 1999, quickly expanding to Malaysia a year later in 2000.

Over the past 3 years our parent company Little League Soccer Singapore has, through

14

the brand name Turf City Football Club (TCFC), concentrated almost exclusively on elite level competition developing some of the country’s top youth talent. They have travelled extensively throughout Europe competing in some of the biggest youth tournaments in the world and beating top professional clubs along the way. I would invite you to read more about them at www.fcturfcity.com In 2011 we in KL suffered the loss of our training ground, which forced us to relocate our academy to the KLFA Football Centre in June 2012. The move cost us 90 per cent of our customers and nearly caused the company to collapse, but we managed to

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

carry on and slowly rebuild our numbers. Now, four years on, we have an excellent grassroots programme full of kids from 3 to 17 years old.

Over the past 12 months we have been working with Turf City Football Club to try and develop our competitive teams through our brand name FC Kuala Lumpur. We’ve been pleased with the progress and I think our coaches’ efforts have been reflected in the success found in overseas tournaments, local events and, most recently, the KL Junior League.

Of course, in football you must always strive to better yourself or risk standing still and being over taken. That is why we are looking

ISSUE 6

Recently Turf City Head Coach Luka Lalic was headhunted by three top European professional clubs to oversee their youth academy programmes. He will be leaving Singapore at the end of this year.

Luka’s departure leaves a big hole in our company and one that brings me onto my final piece of news for this letter. I am excited to announce that Luka will be replaced by Little League Malaysia’s very own Christopher Nathan.

Unfortunately this means that Coach Chris will no longer be with us in KL next year but this does not mean that you won’t see his influence at training sessions in 2017. Chris will continue to write and develop training sessions that will be used by our Malaysian team and will continue as a mentor to our younger coaches to aid their development.

Chris has been a fantastic coach to all the kids at Little League Malaysia and I hope you join with me to wish him well for this exciting new challenge in his career. forward to 2017 and introducing even more progressions. One of the key areas we have identified is parent inclusion and we look forward to receiving valuable input from you for the future development of our club.

Some of the areas we will be looking to work on are outlined in more detail below.

TRAINING 3 TIMES WEEKLY Central to TCFC’s great success is their teamwork and commitment to attending every possible training session. For those kids striving for the highest possible level we are increasing the frequency of our trainings to three sessions a week.

For this to be effective we ask for your help as parents in committing to send your kids to every session possible. We will see no increase in team performance if the majority of the squads are only attending one or two sessions per week. We need everybody to train together all of the time.

CODE OF CONDUCT We will be asking everybody selected for the elite squads to sign a code of conduct prior to the start of the season. This is for both parents and players to sign. For a squad to develop to its full potential we need everybody to behave in the correct manner and support the coach’s direction for the team.

ISSUE 6

REGULAR PARENT MEETINGS We have and always will welcome parent feedback and this is crucial to the development of our club. We will form parent ‘committees’ for each squad of players and arrange meetings to be scheduled once a month (or earlier if needed), and these are the correct forum to voice any concerns, opinions or ideas to the coaches and management team.

PARENT CONSULTATION We will look to better consult with parents to make important decisions for the club such as which tournaments to target and when to play younger children in older age groups to encourage greater development. For example, a key tactic used by TCFC is for season one of their league (January to May) all kids play in their correct age groups, then for season two (September to December) all kids will play one age group higher.

We are very excited about the future of Little League Soccer and FC Kuala Lumpur and are very hopeful to develop our teams to the next level in the 2017 season. Please enjoy what remains of the 2016 calendar and I look forward to seeing everyone at our annual awards night on Saturday, 3 December.

Lastly I would like to extend my email address to all of you as below. If you have any feedback for me or have any concerns that are not able to be addressed by our coaches please do drop me an email and I’ll be happy to help out where I can.

Andy Johnston Managing Director

andy@littleleague.com.my

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD HEAD COACHES Whilst we are focusing a lot of energy on increasing the competitiveness of our elite teams we must not forget about our developing players. To ensure our development training sessions maintain their quality we will be appointing a Head Development Coach at each of the development centres (KLFA and The New Camp) in the very near future. Stay tuned to our website and newsletters to find out more about how this will work very soon.

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

15

NEW YEAR NEW YEAR

EARLY SPECIABIRD RM420 L!

SOCCER SOCCER CAMP 2017 CAMP 2017

BY LITTLE LEAGUE SOCCER KLFA FOOTBALL CENTRE 28–30 DECEMBER 2016

3 DAYS, 2 NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION, FOOD, FOOTBALL, COACHING, COMPETITIONS AND MORE! ALL INCLUSIVE FOR JUST RM470 CONTACT: 012 3533 029 | WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY 16

WWW.LITTLELEAGUE.MY

ISSUE 6