To see the beauty of the Borneo competition...

 

The pair played in the U16 tournament that ended with Creevey’s Endeavour Sports High playing South Korea's TY Sports Academy in the final.

Meanwhile Meehan-Lee’s NT team finished fifth ahead of local side Sabah FC in the six team group that also included Brisbane Boys College and Malaysia’s Soccerkix Academy.

In a thrilling finale at Kota Kinabalu’s Likas Stadium, Creevey’s side lost 4-3 to the skillful South Koreans in a game that had it all – seven goals, monsoonal rain which forced play to be temporarily suspended, a stunning comeback by the Koreans and two red cards (both to the Aussies).

The side based in Sydney’s south went down to ten players in the first half but led 3-1 late into the second stanza as a shock result loomed. That was before the Koreans stormed home to score three times as Endeavour went down to nine players late on.

It was a fitting finale to a tournament that revealed a couple of potential Aussie stars of the future. Creevey (pictured juggling a ball at sunset) is off to the UK later this month to trial with Leeds United.

The left sided central defender got noticed two months ago playing for Sutherland Sharks in the Manchester United Premier Cup in England. There his team Sutherland Sharks drew 0-0 with Barcelona and beat Arsenal’s US Academy 2-0 before a loss to United.

Earlier in the Borneo Cup, Meehan-Lee (pic 20) also caught the eye with a series of composed and clever performances for the unheralded NT side.

The Borneo Cup is the brainchild of former Socceroo striker and Malaysian league star Scott Ollerenshaw.

He told au.fourfourtwo.com the Cup was about giving young players a taste of what it’s like to be a professional footballer in an Asian environment that challenged them.

Junior teams from Australia, Japan, Brunei, South Korea and Malaysia competed in this the third annual Borneo Football Cup played on the Malaysian island of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

And similar to the Manchester Premier Cup, Ollerenshaw sees the Borneo Football Cup as a platform for the future -but with a distinctly Asian feel.

“It’s about young players, many from Australia, learning to cope with the travel in Asia, staying in different hotels, different conditions, humidity, different food, grounds, referees, football styles.

“At the same time, they’re staying in five-star resorts like professionals, playing in big stadiums and playing, training, eating and recovering like a professional footballer.

“Australia is an AFC nation so the sooner the kids get used to these conditions the better – but in their downtime they can really enjoy themselves.”

Underlining  Ollerenshaw’s vision of a tournament now in its third year, former Socceroo great Alan Davidson addressed the players at a dinner. Hosted by Asian-based Australian broadcaster Jason Dasey from Astro, Davidson talked about what it takes to become a professional footballer.

The 79-times capped Socceroo, who played under the legendary Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, also spoke about his son Jason’s career and his challenges in the Japanese youth development system.

Another speaker was former Socceroo striker Greg Brown – himself a coach at the tournament with Brisbane Boys College – who imparted his story as a youth player with Manchester United.

Brown was 15 when his Manchester dream was shattered – the same age as Creevey. “I like the idea of being a professional footballer,” Creevey told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“Being here is like that – it’s good to experience Asian conditions and staying in a place like this.

“I just want to keep trying to become a professional player overseas playing regularly and play for the Socceroos,” said the left sided defender with Thai and Kiwi heritage.

Meehan-Lee, 15, a regular NT rep in recent years, added that it was tough for NT teams playing in the nationals back home. He hoped the experience of a Borneo Cup campaign will help him and the team in the future.

“I’d like to finish Year 12 then trial with any A-League team then maybe play overseas. How many NT players do you see in the A-League or overseas? There’s not many. I hope I can change that and this [tournament] has helped. I’ve had more time on the ball than at the nationals so I have enjoyed it.

“I guess we don’t get to see how other teams play and what it's like to be a professional footballer.”

*More info is at http://www.borneofootballcup.com. The tournament also raises funds for underprivileged young people in Sabah.

To see the beauty of the Borneo competition...