"THE CHANCE"

Nike Malaysia today launched The Chance, a global search for talented young footballers to join the Nike Academy, a high performance training program which is supported by the Premier League in England.

The Chance nationwide search will see more than 500 players attending open trials across Malaysia for a chance to ply their trade at the global trials with Arsene Wenger, Arsenal FC Manager, watching and selecting the top few to be enrolled in the Nike Academy.

The launch event held at Majlis Sukan Negara, Bukit Jalil witnessed 200 footballers from across Klang Valley participate in the open trials under the watchful eyes of national team coach K Rajagobal, who heads the panel of coaches for the Malaysian installation of The Chance.

“This program is certainly a boost for Malaysian football as it gives our young players the chance to prove their worth and possibly excel at the highest levels of participation. My congratulations to Nike Malaysia for this endeavour and for remaining steadfastly committed to the development of grassroots football in the country,” said Rajagopal, a former nation player himself.

The Malaysian trials will be held at the following locations:-

• Padang MPK, Kuantan – 22 September 2010
• Sony Complex, Seberang Prai, Penang – 25 September 2010
• Padang Mawar, Pasir Gudang, Johor Bahru – 29 September 2010

“Nike is passionate about giving footballers insider access to the best coaching and training in the world to improve their game and fulfill their potential. The Chance is a unique opportunity for players to prove themselves on the global stage and to take their game to the next level and even get a shot at a professional contract. It is also a reinforcement of Nike’s ongoing efforts in developing and recognizing youth talent, whilst contributing to the football community in Malaysia.”” said Menaha Nadaraja, Country Marketing Manager, Nike Malaysia.

The Malaysian representative will join 99 players from 40 countries to attend the global trial in England in January 2011, where they will compete for one of the eight international places in the Nike Academy. The eight who are chosen will have their expenses paid to live in the United Kingdom for a year starting in July 2011 and be a full-time member of the Nike Academy.

The Nike Academy offers non-contract players unattached to professional clubs a chance to enter the professional game through world-class coaching and games against the elite academies and professional reserve teams. Since the academy’s start in 2009, eight players in the UK have received professional contracts.

As members of the Nike Academy, players become full-time participants at a residential training centre in England with access to elite coaches, nutritionists, psychologists and fitness conditioners, along with world class facilities to perform at the highest level.

For more information about The Chance, log on to www.nikefootball.com.my