Players perform under the watchful eyes of the FC247 Special Squad. (Photo 1 courtesy of Nike)
Bedok South, Thursday, May 6, 2013 — Twelve school boys experienced the surprise of their life during their after school kick-about beside a HDB block in Bedok South on Thursday. In celebration of the spirit of football anytime, anywhere, Nike launched the FC247 Own My Ground Tournament with a disruptive scouting launch in the HDB heartland of Singapore, where boys who play football know how it feels to worry about police officers chasing them away.
As part of the Nike FC247 ambush-scouting launch, 12 school boys were stopped in the middle of their kick-about game near a HDB block in Bedok by two men clad in security uniform. The two men stood with their arms crossed underneath a “No Football” sign hanging right beside the court, and it looked like the game was over for the boys. But there was a twist to the tale, as the men were actually members of the Nike FC247 Special Squad, who were there to apprehend the boys for the Nike FC247 Own My Ground Tournament.
The Nike FC247 Special Squad approached their game and watched intently as the teenagers played. The boys, all from Bedok View Secondary School, were nervous and surprised at the arrival of the two FC247 security officers. Mohamed Daniel bin Mohad Salem, 15, one of the boys selected by the Nike FC247 squad said: “At first seeing the ‘police’ was quite scary, as we were worried we would be in trouble. Once we found out that they were there to select us for a football tournament, we were really excited!
“We all tried our best to be noticed and to show our best skills during the game. We always play here after school and the visit today was really unexpected and cool.”
Upon revealing their true identity, the Nike FC247 Special Squad invited the boys to show their best skills in a 10-minute game. Six boys were eventually selected and given invitation cards to the Nike FC247 Own My Ground Tournament.
The six boys selected were, Muhmmad Ridwan, 15; Shaun Firdaus Hopson Abduallah, 16; Muhammad Danish bin Balogn, 15; Omar Uqba, 16, Shaikh Faid bin Omar, 16; and Mohamed Daniel bin Mohad Salem, 15. The boys were all invited to form a 5-a-side team to take part in the ‘FC247 Own My Ground’ tournament.
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