Joyful Cheers That Inspired Hope at the Faisal Cup Tournament Finals

Under-12 Netball teams at the Faisal Cup Tournament Finals

There was laughter and shouts of joy all around as the Faisal Cup Tournament Finals was held at SMK Raja Ali in Jalan Ipoh this past Saturday. The event featured around 90 teams; 63 football teams and 27 netball teams; with over 600 under privileged children vying for their respective trophies.

The ULC team took home the trophy for the Under-10 football matches while the ULC-B team, the ACR team and the MRLC team took home the trophy for the Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 matches respectively.  The BRO Under-10 team, BRO-1 Under-12 team, KRC Under-14 team and the HTC Under-16 team held their netball trophy high at the end of the tournament.

Under-12 Football teams at the Faisal Cup Tournament Finals

“Faisal Cup has given me an opportunity to be trained and to play football very well. Some of my friends do not even have the same opportunity. Faisal Cup is a journey where hope can be realised. On behalf of the players, I would like to thank Dignity for Children for organising this tournament. AFDP and UNHCR, thank you for making this possible for all of us here”, said Mohd. Ishak Bin Nur Alam, 11, from the HTC Under-12 Football team during his testimony speech at the Faisal Cup Tournament Finals.

Sarah Manzoor, 11, from the HTC Under-14 Netball team said “Faisal Cup is a really meaningful event for me. It has given me a lot of joy, patience and many life lessons. Faisal Cup is not only an event but it is the voice for freedom and justice. It is an opportunity for us to play. Thank you Dignity for Children Foundation, AFDP and UNHCR for your love, support and faith in us”.

Under-14 Football teams at the Faisal Cup Tournament Finals

A crowd of over 850 people attended in support of the tournament, which included the children, parents, sponsors, supporters and volunteers who helped in the setup of the event as well as managing the food and beverage stalls.

Dato’ Lily Zachariah, Trustee of Dignity for Children Foundation with the winning

Under-10 Netball team at the Faisal Cup Tournament Finals

The Faisal Cup Tournament draws to a close with cheers of joy all around

Mr. Goh Chee Beng, representative of Brainchild Intelligence with the winning 

Under-10 Football team at the Faisal Cup Tournament Finals

Mr. Alan Vernon, representative of the UNHCR with the winning 

Under-14 Football team at the Faisal Cup Tournament Finals

This also marked the first year the Asian Football Development Program (AFDP) has come on board as sponsors alongside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mamee-Double Decker and GE Engine Services (M) Sdn Bhd.

"Congratulations to all winning teams as well as all players who have given their best in this tournament. Football is not only about winning, it’s about team work, making friends and learning from each other," noted Prince Ali, Chairman of AFDP.

The girls’ football team was also introduced to the cheering crowd for the first time. AFDP, the proud first-time sponsors encouraged the move towards developing girls’ football to aid in broadening the perspective of the communities. Training for the girls’ teams will begin soon.

This year the Foundation also introduced the Pledge-A-Ball campaign which will run year round to help create awareness and raise funds for the Faisal Cup. The public is encouraged to take action and pledge RM40 for just one ball. These balls will be used for training purposes as well as for future Faisal Cup tournaments.

This campaign is in keeping with Dignity for Children Foundation’s efforts to ensure that no child will ever have to give up their life just for a chance to play with a ball. Further information on this campaign can be found on the Dignity for Children Foundation’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dignityforchildren

For more information on Faisal Cup or to volunteer for the many other projects and programmes by Dignity for Children Foundation, please visit http://dignityforchildren.org