By JAYDEE LOK
alltherage@thestar.com.my

Every young footballer in Malaysia dreams of having an opportunity to train with the big boys from a foreign league.

Well, last Friday, that dream came true for 50 aspiring footballers who had the opportunity to train with professionals from British club Queens Park Rangers at the AirAsia-QPR Coaching Clinic Tour 2013.

QPR Community Trust members Stephen McCarthy (in red, left) and Martino Chevannes (in red, right) coaching some of the students at SMK Seksyen 11, Shah Alam.

AirAsia Berhad Executive chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and QPR Community Trust CEO Andy Evans launched the Malaysian leg of the tour at SMK Seksyen 11 in Shah Alam.

The tour kicked off in Singapore earlier this month and ended in Kuching, Sarawak yesterday.

“We have been involved in numerous initiatives to help develop and highlight sporting talents by providing the necessary support and platform for them to shine. The initiative came about when (the two parties) mutually recognised the need for better efforts in developing football talents globally and particularly in the region,” said Kamarudin.

He also added that Malaysian talents need to be recognised and that the keen footballers must be exposed to, and have the opportunity to train with, world-class coaches.

Coaching the aspiring footballers were QPR Community Trust members Martino Chevannes, Danny Edwards, Stephen McCarthy and Adam McLachlan.

QPR Skills Coach Danny Edwards (third from left) teaching a couple of SMK Seksyen 11 students a few tricks while AirAsia Executive Chairman Dato Kamarudin Meranun (second from right) and QPR Community Trust CEO Andy Evans (right) look on.

The participants were divided into three groups based on age and taught various tactics and techniques – and a few neat tricks, just so they can impress their friends. The boys particularly enjoyed trying to balance a ball on their heads on top of a plastic water bottle – not easy.

The players were also given a talk on the importance of diet and nutrition.

At the end of each clinic, the coaches selected a “player of the day”, and at the end of the tour, the one player who stands out from the rest will win a visit to Loftus Road, QPR’s home stadium, in London.

There they would meet and learn from the QPR team and enjoy a day at the club’s Academy.

AirAsia Berhad Executive Chairman Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun (left) and QPR Trust CEO Andy Evans at the official launch of AirAsia – Queens Park Rangers Football Coaching Clinic in SMK Seksyen 11, Shah Alam.

“For Malaysians to shine at the international stage is not an impossible dream. The likes of Park Ji-Sung and Yun Suk-Young are living testaments that Asians have what it takes to play in the top flight of football, anywhere in the world,” said Kamarudin.

“One day, these (Malaysian) boys could be playing for QPR!” added Evans.