LALIGA Youth Tournament attracts over 50 participating teams in Genting Highlands
THE 2023 LALIGA Youth Tournament was held on 16 and 17 September at the Genting Highlands, and saw five teams being crowned winners: ChiangMai FC (Under-16), DTC KMY (U-14), Muangthong United (U-12), Perdana United (U-10) and ATSA (U-8).
After the success of participation, and the projection and enthusiasm shown by all participants in the first two years, this third edition has served to consolidate the tournament as one of the benchmark grassroots football tournaments in Malaysia.
Organised by LALIGA and Sambill Park, the tournament saw more than 50 teams and over 700 players from five countries took part.
“We want LALIGA Youth Tournament to become the biggest football tournament in Asia in the next five years. We are looking to provide a platform for young players in Asia to achieve their dream and enjoy an exciting experience with LaLiga.” said Daniel Wong, Sambill Park's managing director.
The finals of each category were broadcast through LALIGA's social networks, with popular TikToker @refereekampung as one of the VIP guests.
In addition to the collective awards, the tournament closed with the best player award going to ChiangMai FC's Jakrapon Upakara, who earns a place in one of the LALIGA Camps programmes conducted by the LALIGA Academy team at the ESC LALIGA centre in Madrid.
"We are proud not only to have been able to give continuity, but also to have been able to develop this beautiful project for grassroots football in the region, now in its third edition," said Adrian Prol, LALIGA delegate in Malaysia.
"This year we have seen an outstanding level during the weekend. And together with projects such as LALIGA Academy Malaysia, we feel part of the development of football in Malaysia so that the youngest can enjoy football."
LALIGA and Epsom College in Malaysia had announced in May their agreement to open the LALIGA Academy Malaysia on the school’s 50-acre campus in Bandar Enstek, just outside Kuala Lumpur.
Such demonstrate LALIGA's firm commitment to the development of grassroots football in Southeast Asia, and to bring Spanish football closer to fans on this side of the world.
