Tuaran: Papar FC One Heart emerged champions of the Sabah Open Grassroot Under-12 Football Championship held at the Sabah Intan Campus Football Field, here, Sunday.
Papar FC One Heart took home RM1,700 in cash, a trophy, and medals while runners-up Bonor Celtic received RM1,000 in cash.
Third place was won by Pangalat FC with RM700 in cash, while fourth place was won by Sri Karanahan FT who received RM500 in cash. All winners also took home trophies and medals.
The prizes were presented by tournament organiser Rijahan Aliaprah together with Sabah football legend Matlan Marjan.
The jubilant Papar FC One Heart team pose with their trophy.
Meanwhile, the Bonor Celtic team was awarded the best team, while the best player was awarded to Asmawi Amran also from the same team.
The best goalkeeper was awarded to Muhamad Sherhan Zanazan from Papar FC One Heart and Suirfam Supiam from Bonor Celtic was named the talented young player.
The tournament, which began on Saturday, successfully attracted 40 teams from across the State and brought together nearly 400 players under the age of 12.
Earlier, Pantai Dalit State Assemblyman Datuk Jasnih Daya officiated the two-day tournament.
“We want to start a programme where we can identify future players through this Under-12 football programme.
“God willing, after this, we hope to have technical experts, coaches from Sabah to jointly monitor and see this competition,” he said when met by reporters after officiating the tournament.
Rijahan said that initially more than 100 teams registered for the tournament.
“However, the secretariat had to limit it to only 40 teams because it only lasted for two days,” he said.
