Phuket’s BIS to host largest international schools’ football tournament

PHUKET: Over 1,100 young footballers aged 8 to 18 years and from nine different countries will congregate in Phuket this Friday and Saturday (November 8-9) for the 12th annual British International School Phuket (BISP) International Football Tournament, sponsored by Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort and the Phuket Gazette.

The expansive 39-acre BISP campus with 10 seven-a-side football pitches, is the ideal location for the world’s largest international schools’ football tournament.

The tournament attracts huge interest from international schools around Asia, and this year, the 12th year the event has run, will be the biggest yet.

Out of the 26 schools participating, 11 are located in Thailand – namely, Bangkok Patana School, Grace International School, Chiang Mai, Harrow International School, Bangkok, International Community School, Bangkok, Prem Tinsulanonda International School, QSI International School of Phuket, Shrewsbury International School, Bangkok, St. Andrews International School, Bangkok, The Regent’s School, Pattaya and the Youth Football Home, Phuket.

Last year the winners of each age division were spread across many different schools with no single school particularly stronger than another. Spectators will be watching keenly to see if those victorious last year, repeat their success.

Among the Thailand schools, BIS Phuket were the Under-9 champions at last year’s tournament, while Bangkok Patana took Gold in the Under 11 Girls division, and the Youth Football Home, Phuket won the Under-13 Boys. Thailand schools were victorious also in the Over-15s, with International Community School, Bangkok winning the Over-15 Girls and Grace International School, Chiang Mai winning the Over-15 Boys.

The tournament has an exciting and vibrant fair-like atmosphere as there is music entertainment from 11:30am both days of the competition and over 25 vendors will be selling delicious food and beverages and other goodies, such as jewelery and swimwear.

Of special note, 13-year-old BISP student Benjamin “‘Gift” Boonyasit, winner of Thailand’s Channel 3 TV competition “Singing Kids” will be performing as well as the BISP Parent Choir, Keystage 2 Choir, student rock bands and well-known BISP teacher band “Elephant in the Room”.

The organizers are hoping for good weather over the two days, and BISP Headmaster Neil Richards, MBA, said:

“The BISP ground staff is to be congratulated upon providing a surface on each of the 10 pitches that, in my opinion, is better than any artificial turf known to man – it is called grass.”

The football action begins at 8am on both Friday and Saturday, with the opening ceremony on Pitch 1 at 7:30am on Friday morning.

Finals are scheduled for 2pm to 3pm, and the event will conclude with a friendly game played between the international schools’ team coaches.

The Awards Ceremony will be held at 4:30pm on Saturday. Spectators and visitors are welcome.

For more information, please email jlamantia@bisphuket.ac.th.

Full schedule:

Thursday 7th November 2013

• 19.30 Coaches meeting at BISP in Conference Room

Friday 8th November 2013

• 7:00 – 7:25 Teams arrive
• 7:30 Opening Ceremony near Pitch 1
• 8:00 First games start
• 11:30 – 13:00 Staggered lunch
• 17:00 End of day’s play

Saturday 9th November 2013

• 7:30 – 8:00 Teams arrive
• 8:00 Games recommence / playoffs
• 11:30 – 1:00 Staggered lunch
• 14:00 – 15:00 Finals
• 16:00 Coaches’ game
• 16:30 Awards Ceremony
• 17.15 BBQ
• 18:00 Teams depart

If you need any information during the tournament, please contact 076-335555 ext. 0 or contact the PTA Group.

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