TOTTENHAM CHOOSE M'SIA AS BASE IN ASIA

PETALING JAYA (Selangor, Malaysia), July 5 (Bernama) -- After Liverpool,
Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton, English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspurs has
also chosen Malaysia as its base for enhancing their Football Development
Programme in the region.

Tottenham Club Ambassador, Gary Mabbutt said the programme with the
co-operation of a company, Football Focus Asia, will unearth potential
footballers in Malaysia and other Asian countries as well.

"Through this extensive programme which will bring Tottenham coaches to
Malaysia, football will be develop at the grassroots level to be on par with EPL
standard, driving the success of Malaysian football for years to come.

"It will be great to see the first Malaysian in the EPL, playing for
Tottenham," he told reporters after launching the Tottenham Hotspurs
Developing Malaysia Football, here today.

Mabbutt, 50, who is also a legendary 'The Spurs' who played over 600
games for the club between 1982 until 1998 said Malaysia was selected because
the club was aware of the potential in this country.

"In Malaysia, the British International School Kuala Lumpur (BISKL) is the
first of many institutions throughout Asia to distinguish itself by offering one
of the world best academy experiences to its students.

"We hope to expend the development programme to Hong Kong and Singapore
after this to find new young talents, who can be polished to become accomplished
footballers," he said.

To improve the standard of Asian football at the grass roots level, Mabbutt
said the development programme would not only be centralised in England but will
be spread to Malaysia and Asia.

The Academy will officially start on July 21 and open to individuals, teams,
and coaches.

It offers a great opportunity for Asian footballers aged 10 to 18, across
all regions, to experience professional football training at its highest level.

Participants will not only learn the physical aspects of training and
playing at the highest level of football, they will also gain invaluable insight
into the psychology involved for playing in the EPL, along with the necessary
dietary and nutritional requirements.

Tottenham's achievement in the EPL 2010/2011 was a fifth place finish, one
ahead of Liverpool and four behind Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City
and Arsenal.