Rising Stars International Sports Academy, a Phnom Penh-based organisation founded two years ago to help develop local talent, will send its U14 and U16 football teams to a special international competition in Singapore this weekend.

A total of 80 teams from 13 countries across the region are set to congregate at S.League club Home United’s home ground of Bishan Stadium for various age divisions of a youth tournament that will be played late into the night of Saturday and Sunday.

20 boys and two coaches from RSISA will depart from Phnom Penh International Airport tomorrow afternoon.

The U14 squad will join 12 other teams vying for glory in Singapore, while the U16 line up face stiff opposition from nine rivals.

The tournament will follow a round robin group stage format on Saturday featuring 10-minute games, with each team playing each other twice. The top eight sides of each division – U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16 – will progress to quarter finals, with semi finals and grand finals slated for Sunday night.

Matches are scheduled between 4pm and 11pm on both days.

RSISA director Ken Gadaffi told the Post: “The boys are excited. It’s a dream come true for most of them as they get their first chance to go abroad to play football.

“When we started RSISA two years ago, the aim was to create a platform for these budding and upcoming youths to have a chance to learn and play football the right way. I am optimistic that these boys will give their best to succeed.”

Gadaffi noted that the trip is mainly self-funded with support from Future Children Foundation and Royal Springs Trading Company.