There were 25 U13 boys teams assembled on 19 March at the Olympic Stadium, 2 teams from UWC East Campus, Singapore, as well as teams from Siounakville, Siem Reap, Battambang, Kendal and Phnom Penh.
The format was 4 pools of round robin competition on quarter fields, 7 aside, 20 minute games which meant non-stop action. Everyone who attended the day were amazed at the skills displayed by these youngsters and the quality of goal scoring. By 3pm, 8 teams were left with Juice Masters, Battambang Rangers and The Seasiders looking the teams to beat. The surprise quarter final result was the ISF Flying Tigers 1-0 win over Juice Masters. The semi final action reflected a long day for all teams; teams were focused on not making mistakes, rather than the free flowing game displayed earlier in the day.
Again the Flying Tigers surprised everyone when they ended The Seasiders day in a penalty shoot out. The Flying Tigers goalkeeper made two super saves. MJB team (PSE), sponsored by Maruhan Japan Bank, won the other semi-final, 1-0 over Komar Takmau, thereby setting up 2 Phnom Penh teams in the final. Both PSE and ISF are centered around the old rubbish dump area of Stung Meanchey with both providing education opportunities to disadvantaged children.
The final was a hard fought victory to the ISF Flyer Tigers 1-0, MJB had their chances but the day belonged to the Flying Tigers.
Players, supporters, coaches, referees and anyone else who fitted onto the ISF truck or tuk tuks made their way to the shopping mall in Stung Meanchey where the ISF Chairman ordered 73 double scooped ice creams; a good finish to the day for the ISF team and the owner of the ice cream parlour!
