20 Nov, SMK USJ 4: The Subang Jaya Community Sports Club (SJCSC) recently hosted the inaugural SJCSC Quad Invitational Friendly at SMK USJ 4 football field. The invitational was divided into 3 age groups comprising Under 8’s, Under 10’s and Under 12’s with 4 teams per age group. Matches were played in a round robin league format.

Just prior to the start of the invitational, the heavens above Subang Jaya opened up and the torrential rains arrived with a vengeance. Players and parents alike were unsure if the matches would be called off. Fortunately, after a while, the skies cleared up and the football festivities could start, albeit slightly delayed.

The teams that made the invitational were from Shah Alam (Shah Alam FC), Bangi (Liga Bolasepak Junior Bangi, LBJB) and Singapore (Nanyang Primary School). These teams have forged a close relationship with SJCSC over the years.

“The idea of having this friendly invitational was not so much of being a competitive one, but more for the love of football and giving the opportunity for our boys and parents to interact with other communities on and off the field,” Farouk Hashim, SJCSC President, explained.

Rain, rain, go away...Nanyang boys staring wistfully at the field	"Eerm ,maybe I should have brought my swimming trunks!"
Having fun in the water	Shah Alam FC boys showing of their winner's medals

LBJB is a community league based in Bangi and modeled after the Subang Jaya Community Youth Football League (SJCYFL), where the SJCYFL leaders provided support and advice to help Bangi set up their own league in 2008, and have been running it successfully ever since. “If you were to witness their matches, you'd be forgiven for thinking that you were watching an SJCYFL match: Same voices, same energy, same spirit!” Farouk said, with a smile.

SJCSC’s relationship with Nanyang started in 2006 when SJCSC participated in a tournament in Singapore. For this invitational, Nanyang brought a total of 26 players to play in the Under 10’s and Under 12’s. “Apart from preparing our boys for their inter-school competition which starts in January, this trip provides an opportunity foe us to build friendships across the causeway. We have been coming here every year since 2009,” said the Nanyang Coach, Zubir Abdullah.

At the end of the invitational, it was a very wet, but happy group that convened in the school canteen for food and refreshments. True to the spirit of community football, every player was presented with a winner’s medal. “We hope that this invitational will be a yearly affair, and plans are underway to try and make this a reality,” Farouk concluded.

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