Dutch football club Ajax are keen on developing a youth programme
in Malaysia, an executive said on Thursday.
Jonathan Price, chairman of Britain's Gifted Group Limited (GGL),
which manages major European tournaments, said Ajax presented a
proposal recently to Malaysia's Youth and Sports Ministry.
"Ajax's youth academy is well known worldwide and their youth
development has produced top football legends, among them Johan
Cruyff, Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Dennis Bergkamp,"
Price said in a statement.
Price said Ajax's Malaysian programme would involve youth at the
state and club levels.
He was in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the inaugural Champions Youth Cup,
which GGL is organising.
The junior tournament from August 8 to 19 will feature youth teams
from the world's top clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and
AC Milan.
British club Arsenal already runs a soccer school in Malaysia and
Germany's Bayern Munich previously hosted a youth development
programme.
