‘Qualifying age gap widened to allow greater participation at tryouts to be held in five states’
Budding football stars, take note! Million Dollar Feet™ (MDF™), the one-of-a-kind football talent search which combed the country last year in search of Malaysia’s best young football talents, will return for an electrifying second season this year.
This was announced recently at a launch event graced by SamAllardyce (Big Sam), former English football manager and player. Also in attendance were Steve McMahon, former Liverpool legend and MDF™ Head Coach, Peter de Kretser, Founder and Director of Football and presenting sponsor BABA’s, Head of Advertising & Promotions, Navin Stanislaus.
The second season follows the astounding success of last year’s inaugural season, where Adam Roshan Kris Azman from Kuala Lumpur and Mohd YusryHaziq from Sarawak were both selected to receive the coveted prize of a trial in the United Kingdom. They were each awarded an exclusive two-year scholarship from one of Europe’s top football academies – Brooke House Football Academy – worth a collective total of RM1 million.
“Youth development in football is critical in establishing a top footballing nation. The game is truly global and I strongly believe that a Malaysian can play at the top level in the Premier League in the coming years,” claimed Allardyce. “We want to see a star from South-east Asia and that’s why I fully support what the chaps at Million Dollar Feet™ are aiming to achieve.”
Following last year’s format, Million Dollar Feet™ 2017 is open to all youths residing in Malaysia aged 11 to 16. To give all Malaysians access to the competition, tryouts will be held throughout Malaysia starting with Penang (7 & 8 October), followed by Sarawak (13 & 14 October), Kelantan (20 & 21 October), Johor (27 & 28 October), Kuala Lumpur (3 & 4 November) followed by the finals on 5 November.
“We hope to eclipse last year and see over 10,000 young participants in 2017,” added De Kretser. The best of the best will be flown to KL for the grand finals, where two winners are crowned and flown to the UK for an opportunity to showcase their skills to scouts and academies from UK’s finest football clubs! We hope to add two more exciting additions to follow in Adam and Yusry’s footsteps towards achieving their dreams.”
While the try-outs were open to youths aged 11 to 14 last year, this age gap has been widened for this year’s season of MDF™, which will be open to youths aged 11 to 16.
“If there’s anything to be learned from last year’s season of MDF™, it’s that Malaysia truly has exceptional young footballing talent. Given the right opportunity, platform and training, these potential talents are capable of making it into the big leagues in Europe, which is what this programme is all about. I said this last year and still maintain that Malaysia will have its first representation in the big football clubs in the not too distant future, and we’re all committed on making this a reality with Million Dollar Feet™,” said McMahon.
This new season of Million Dollar Feet™ will receive continued support from the Ministry of Education, Malaysia and the British High Commission, Kuala Lumpur.
Season two of MDF™ will also see more sponsor’s coming aboard, including BABA’s, Malaysia’s leading spice brand, as the presenting sponsor.
“With a rich history dating back more than 30 years, we are now a household name throughout Malaysia, with a multiracial clientele stemming from all walks of life. When you look at it, these are the values that MDF™ stands for as well, to give an equal opportunity for all young Malaysians to shine, which is why we wanted to be part of this truly amazing initiative,” said Stanislaus.
Sponsors for the second season of Million Dollar Feet™ include Brickfields Asia College (BAC), Etihad Airways, TGV Cinemas, National Kidney Foundation, Anita, LAC Printing, and 100 Plus.
Young football talents who wish to try out for the competition can register free of charge by logging on to www.milliondollarfeet.com