COFFS Harbour’s Myanmar community have showcased their football skills by winning an invitational tournament in Brisbane.

Myanmar United won last weekend’s tournament after receiving an invite from the Karenni community of Queensland to participate in their annual 7-a-side competition.

Myanmar United are a team based in Coffs Harbour comprising players from the local Myanmar community.

Myanmar United player John Omtha explained to News Of The Area the importance of the team and football to the Myanmar community of Coffs Harbour.

“Our Coffs Myanmar community has been hoping for unity amongst different ethnic groups and one of the ways that we can achieve that is through our football team,” he said.

“Myanmar United represents individuals from different ethnic groups who have formed together to overcome the differences and create an understanding amongst each other not just in football but also in our outside lives.”

Myanmar United won the Brisbane invitational tournament in emphatic style, as John Omtha described to News Of The Area.

“The tournament went on for the whole day in a scorching Brisbane heat, and our team won every game in our group stage with strong score lines without conceding any goals,” he said.

“We advanced to the grand final after winning our game 3-0 in which we dominated; however, the grand final was a much different game since the other team were also very strong and consisted of highly skilled players.

“The boys fought for every duel and for every second of the game to finish the game 3-1 in our favour and we were crowned champions.”

Omtha said his team relished the challenge of facing top opposition in Brisbane and prepared accordingly.

“The team was thrilled to receive the invitation and has been longing for challenges so we started preparing for the tournament most afternoons even with work and other commitments, we played together and had training sessions,” he said.

“We’ve been aware of the talent and skill levels of the players in Brisbane and we were excited to test ourselves against them.”

 

By: Aiden BURGESS