This year’s First Division football league will kick off next Wednesday at the Lin Fong pitch, Macau Football Association President Lai Pak Leng announced yesterday.
The association held a Chinese New Year media luncheon at Casa Real Hotel yesterday, during which Lai gave a brief presentation on the association’s programme for this year, which includes hosting international tournaments such as the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers Playoff and the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers Playoff in September, as well as competing in the U20, U18, and U16 tournaments of the 15th National Games in November.
According to Lai, the tasks of his association this year also include “a four-year plan focusing on coach training and youth football development, enhancing grassroots football, and organising football activities for all age groups with the aim of increasing the number of male and female football players in Macau”, with a view to continually optimising the development of the association’s vision.
Matches for the new season’s First and Second divisions will continue last season’s format, starting with a single round-robin followed by further divisions into a championship group and a relegation group. The First Division will play a double round-robin, while the Second Division will play a single round-robin. Other groups, including the Third Division, Youth, Junior, Reserve, Advanced, and Fun divisions, will start sequentially. Additionally, U14 and U12 groups will be introduced to provide more competition opportunities for young players.
In terms of women’s football, the association plans to switch the women’s group competition to an eleven-a-side format this year, aiming to better align women’s football with international competitions, its General Secretary Chan Keng Hou said, adding that more international friendlies will also be arranged for women’s football this year.
Macau Football Association General Secretary Chan Keng Hou listens to a reporter’s question on the sidelines of yesterday’s media gathering at Casa Real Hotel in Nape. – Photo: Yuki Lei
