The Royal Selangor Club (RSC)-Datuk Chu Ah Nge football tournament for juniors could well create another history next year in their 15th edition where plans are underway to have an ‘all-girls’ category.

The tournament over the years have seen teams, including host Royal Selangor Club, field girls in their boys’ team.

In recent years, all-girls teams have been competing in the tournament against the boys’ teams.

Among them include Subang Jaya Super Girls and GDT Pink Roses FC, in this year’s tournament, while RSC Harimau Under-14 team and a few other teams had a few girls playing with their boys’ team.

Datuk Gerald Rakish Kumar, the organising committee chairman, said with the growing interest of “all girls’ teams” and teams fielding girls in the boys’ teams, he will be recommending in his post tournament report for the tournament to include an ‘all girls” category next year.

“It is about time the Datuk Chu open up and include an ‘all girls’ category with the growing popularity among the girls who are competing in the tournament,” said Gerald Kumar.

“I will be recommending in my post tournament to next year’s organising committee, to seriously consider including an all-girls category. It could be for one age group between 10-16.

“We will be making another history for our tournament and at the same help promote and develop the game among girls in the country.

“I am sure if we have a girls’ category it will gain strong support and have teams from Sabah where women’s football is popular.

“Above all, it will help in the development of women football and provide a better pool of women players for the future.”

Indeed, a noble idea, as there is no age-group tournament for girls and it will certainly help in the development of women football.

There is no denying that football has growing interest among girls and women. 

Kudos to said Gerald Kumar and his organising committee and the RSC Junior Soccer Development Programme (JSDP) for their noble idea and hopefully the organsing committee for next year follows it through.

Already the tournament this year made history with The Crown Prince of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al Haj, who is also the President of the Football Association of Selangor, officially declaring the tournament at the opening ceremony of the tournament. It was Tengku Amir’s first visit to the grounds of the RSC.

The tournament for the first time also got the blessing of the FA of Malaysia who in recognising the JSDP and their international tournament for age groups starting from 8 years old to 16, have thrown their support to officially sanction the tournament.

It is all set now to add another feather in their cap next year.

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