Triumphant in the rain

The continuous rain during the two-days of the 9^th International Football Club (IFC) Football 9s 2017 held in Krabi, Thailand, last week, failed to dampen the spirits of the competing teams, as Kilat Veterans went to wrest the title beating Club SC Malacca in the final.

Despite the tournament having to revert to mandatory five penalty–kicks to determine the winners from the semi-finals stage because the field at the Krabi Power Plant was deemed unplayable by match officials as it was water-logged, muddy and above all dangerous for play.

All teams agreed with the decision of the match officials and the IFC’s organising committee.

However the exciting in the penalty shoot-out was no less than in a match, as the order of penalty kicks in shootouts, known as the ABBA sequence was used.

Instead of teams taking alternate penalties, the new system involved team ‘A’ taking the first kick, then team ‘B’ taking two, then team ‘A’ taking two. This system was used in the recent European Under-17 Championship tournaments.

The 16 teams competing in the tournament managed to complete their preliminary round Group matches on the first day despite the rain coming in intervals from morning to evening.

Competition as in previous years, was competitive as teams battled to finish among the top two in their Groups to qualify for the winner’s pool quarterfinals knockout stage.

The third and fourth placed teams in their respective Groups played in the Plate quarterfinals.

The tournament organised by locally based veterans football club – International Football Club (IFC) – did not fail to see the teams have fun, make new friends in fellowship atmosphere and comradeship was the order of day.

After the completion of the first day fixtures, the official dinner hosted by the Thailand Authority of Tourism (TAT), set the mood for the tournament.

IFC is the only club in Malaysia who have a proud tradition of having brought their tournament to be hosted overseas in Asia.

IFC true to the name of the club, after the initial two years of hosting at home at their borrowed ‘home ground’ – Club Aman, decided to venture out to host a Malaysian tournament aboard and hosted its first overseas tournament in Hangzhou, in China in 2011. This was followed by in Pattaya, Thailand in 2012 and Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2014 and 2016.

In 2015, IFC achieved another first when they brought the tournament to East Malaysia and hosted it in Kota Kinabalu.

This year in Krabi, the capital of southern Thailand’s Krabi Province, a resort town near the Andaman coast, the town was indeed abuzz with the football festivity in the air.

However, IFC in their mood of festivity, did not fail to remember and pay tribute to two members of their club -president, Steve Krupa, and goalkeeper Mark Toh, who had passed on earlier this year.

Besides paying tribute with a minute’s silence at the opening ceremony of the tournament and at the official dinner, IFC has put up banners bearing the pictures of the two deceased and had a tribute video presentation at the dinner.

Organising chairman, Kiranjit Singh said: “It was still a great tournament where everyone enjoyed the two-day tournament despite the rain playing havoc.”

“IFC certainly achieved its main objective – friendship thru’ football.”

Although IFC as host had once again failed to win the championship, they were certainly perfect hosts.

IFC this year qualified for the quarterfinals but were edged out by Sri Muda 2-0. IFC had emerged the Plate Champions in 2014.

The closest the host came to becoming champions was in the inaugural tournament in 1999 when they finished runners-up losing to Wednesday FC.

Kilat in winning the tournament have wrested the title for the second time, having won it in 2012.

The Datuk Webster (Douglas Webster – the first president of IFC) Trophy and medals were presented to Kilat and the top three teams in the Winners Pool and top two in the Losers Pool by Apichai Aranyig, the Director of TAT of Krabi.

IFC also did their social responsibilities with charity work when they managed to raise RM14,000 through a raffles draw and donations from participating teams which they handed to Krabi Special Education Center.

RESULTS:

FINAL:

Kilat Veteran beat Club SC Malacca (penalty kicks – 6-5 sudden death)

3^rd placing:

Sri Muda beat Bigfoot Kickers (Thailand) – penalty kicks – 2-1

Losers Pool Final:

Brickwork Boyz beat Bangkok Airways (penalty kick 5-3)

Names of clubs who competed:                                               

Champion 2017: 

2017 Kilat Veterans  

Past Champions:

2016  Century Lucky Star (China)        Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2015  Sabah Mix                                      Kota Kinabalu Sabah

2014   Bangkok Airways                         Phnom Phem Cambodia 

2013   Kelab Aman                                  Kuala Lumpur 

2012   Kilat Veterans                              Pattaya, Thailand

2011   Uniplast KL                                   Hangzhou, China

2010   Uniplast  KL                                  Kuala Lumpur

2009   KL Wednesday                             Kuala Lumpur 

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