KUCHING – Team Napoli scored 2-1 against Al-Ain FC to emerge the champion in the Pro Vice-Chancellor’s 7-Aside Inter-Club Challenge Trophy of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, recently.
Napoli, a team of African students, impressed the crowd with their fast attacks and counterattacks down the flanks, accurate passing and solid defending. They scored the opening goal of the match and could have added more to the two goals after the final whistle but it was not their day in front of the Al-Ain goal.
The Middle Eastern students of Al-Ain were no pushovers, however, and dominated the first half of the match. But their many attempts at goal were foiled, managing to put only one shot past the Napoli ‘keeper.
On top of winning the championship trophy, Napoli’s seven-goal Tanzanian striker Amani Virani Msofe was named top scorer of the tournament. To his delight, he was presented with the award by Guy Bwele, a Cameroonian who played for the Sarawak football team in the Malaysian Super League.
In third place of the tournament was Leicester City. After drawing 1-1 against Flamingo, both teams had to settle for a penalty shootout. Impressive goal-keeping by ‘keepers from both sides kept the score at 3-1.
Professor Anthony Cahalan, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Swinburne Sarawak presented the championship trophy and medals after the final match between Team Napoli and Al-Ain FC.
A total of 15 teams from the university competed in the three-day tournament.
This is the second football tournament organised by the university this year. Earlier this year, team “Malaysia” beat “Nigeria” in a penalty shootout at the university’s Registrar’s Cup Challenge Trophy where 13 teams representing students from 11 countries competed.
Mohamed Hisyam Jamal Mohamed, Assistant Manager of Student Operations at the university, said the tournaments are becoming popular and more teams are expected in both competitions next year.