Latics Stint off for Unlucky Three

Three young Malaysian lads are about to lose their dream of a stint with Premier League giants Wigan Athletic due to a lack of funds according to a report in the Malaysian newspaper NST.

The three young lads are all members of the Ken Barnes football academy in Kangar and had been identified has having the necessary attributes to be given a trial at the Latics, Azrizan Ahmad, 17, Mohd Faqeem Aswad, 16, and Mohd Fadzwin Che Halim, 15, were supposed to have arrived yesterday, a spokesman for the academy told the NST:

'Unfortunately, while we were able to source for funds in previous years, our efforts have yielded nothing this year'

'I feel surprised and sad for the boys and for the programme. The boys from Malaysia have been getting opportunities that not even many English boys get, and every boy that we have sent has become a better player for the experience.

'I hope the stint materialises as the boys are so near and yet, so far from what will surely be a fantastic experience for them.'

Ken Barnes is a former professional football player with Manchester City and he is the father of Peter Barnes the ex Manchester City, Leeds, West Brom and England winger

Vital Latics - Doing a bit of reporting

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