Ten young Malaysians are just one step away from making it to the Allianz Junior Football Camp (AJFC) in Munich, Germany this August.
Muhammad Adam Nadzmi Zamri and Daniel Phoon Chun Tuck from Penang, Muhammad Ashriq Izzat Mazlan, Muhammad Akmal Abdul Rashid and Muhammad Hafiz Izzudin Az-Har from Kedah, Mohamad Khairol Syafiq Hairol Azri from Pahang, Mohammad Zharmien Ashraf Ismail from Sarawak as well as Kumaran Raman, Eisanraaj K. Maniarasan and Muhammad Lukman Hakim Mohd Azli from Selangor touched down at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand today for AJFC Asia 2018 from 16 to 19 July 2018.
The players will be amongst 57 teenagers aged between 14 and 16 from China, Indonesia, Laos, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand that will undergo the selection process at the Krungthep Thonburi University Campus under the watchful eyes of Carsten Lakies, former FC Bayern player and now Coach of International Program at FC Bayern Munich.
AJFC Asia serves as the final selection of nine talents that will represent Asia at AJFC in Munich, Germany which takes place between 27 and 31 August 2018. Only two Malaysian players will earn a ticket to Munich.
âWe are excited to be sending 10 players to AJFC Asia this year. The camp provides great exposure to our boys as they get to train under Carsten Lakies, a former Bayern Munich player and learn from him first-hand. It will be a life changing experience both on and off the field as they will also get to mix and mingle with their peers from all across Asia. We wish all 10 boys the best of luck. We are confident that Carsten will do a great job identifying the best Malaysian talents for AJFC in Munich,â said Zakri Khir, Chief Executive Officer, Allianz Malaysia Berhad.
During the camp, the young footballers will participate in daily training sessions which will culminate in a tournament on 19 July 2018 to decide the AJFC Asia winners from each country. Part of AJFC Asia includes get-together activities, My Finance Coach programme (financial literacy programme) and cultural performances by the participants.Â
AJFC is an annual football event held globally since 2009 with AJFC Malaysia debuting in 2012 followed by AJFC Asia in 2013. The AJFC Malaysia League officially launched in Kuala Lumpur on 2 March 2018 and was open to teams of 18 players aged between 14 to 16 years old.
This is the 10th year that the Allianz Junior Football Camp is being held globally. This year, Malaysia was part of the event for the seventh consecutive year and has thus far witnessed the talents of 7,432 young aspiring footballers.